Renan Tolentinoof RFI in Paris
“We are doing everything, Flamengo has everything to be champion. It will not be a surprise if we take this title and celebrate it in Paris. It will be the most beautiful thing,” projects Cidel Cavalcante, one of the creators of FlaParis.
Official consulate of Flamengo fans in France, FlaParis warms the heart. It was founded six years ago, when the Rio club began its current era of historic achievements, which has already won 19 trophies.
“It started in 2019, that magical year, after the team experienced a lack of significant titles. At that time, I moved to Paris and I looked for other red-black fans like me here. I was lucky to find a Frenchman who was passionate about Flamengo, not only about Flamengo, but also about Brazilian football. From that moment on, we brought together the red-black fans who are here in Paris to watch the matches,” says Cidel.
During this 2019 season, the Rio team won the Copa Libertadores da América and the Brasileirão. Since then, he has gotten into the habit of piling up trophies. In 2025, it repeated the same feats as six years ago, winning its ninth national championship and its fourth Libertadores, becoming the Brazilian club with the most titles in the competition.
Now the challenge is to become world champion for the second time in history – a feat this generation of fans dreams of seeing. Like Danilo Fernandes, originally from Rio de Janeiro, who has lived in France since 2019 and is one of the directors of FlaParis.
“It’s a dream come true and we, as fans, can be a part of it. For us here it will be a different feeling, living in Paris and seeing Flamengo face the city team. Let’s see what happens… But we have a lot of hope,” Danilo said.
Path to the bi world
To win their second world championship, Rubro-Nègre must defeat the powerful PSG, champion of the Champions League this year and which includes the Frenchman Dembélé, winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
To reach the Intercontinental decision, the Rio club went through two stages: first, it beat the Mexican Cruz Azul, in the Derby of the Americas; then they beat Egyptian Pyramids in the Challenger Cup, which in the current format is equivalent to the semi-final of the competition.
“I think Flamengo will go all the way. It’s a difficult match, the match of the year. We’re going to face a great team, champions of the Champions League, who had a good match this year. But Flamengo also worked hard to get here. So, as fans, we believe we can make this dream come true,” reflects Danilo.
The confrontation against the French promises to be very tough. Despite recent history indicating a certain lack of interest from European clubs in the competition, the match will take place in Qatar, the country of PSG’s owners, who must not want to make bad arguments in front of their owners.
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The Parisian red and black supporters recognize the difficult scenario and the qualities of the opponent, but this does not shake their confidence and their optimism. “The team must maintain a high defense, put pressure and take risks, enter with determination, will and will to achieve victory,” analyzes Danilo.
During the Libertadores 2025 final, on November 29, FlaParis mobilized hundreds of fans in a restaurant in the north of the French capital. On this occasion, the Red and Black celebrated Flamengo’s Tetra in the competition, with a 1-0 victory over Palmeiras.
“It was crazy, more than 600 reds and blacks gathered to support the decision of the Libertadores. It was a fantastic party, which will last until the final of this course at the World Cup. It has everything to be a great party”, comments Cidel.
“Come on, Flamengo!”
Among these reds and blacks is the Frenchman Marcelin Chamoin, 33 years old. Passionate about Flamengo and Brazilian football, he has already turned this love into a book of chronicles on the Rio club.
“My first football-related memory is of the 1998 World Cup, when France beat Brazil in the final. But, although French, in Brazil there was Ronaldo, so I fell in love with the Brazilian team. Then I started supporting Flamengo, because of the huge fans and the unique love that Flamengo fans have for the team. My first idol at that time was Obina. Afterwards, it was a feeling that never changed. just growing up,” he recalls.
Marcelin admits that he admires PSG, but confirms that his favorite club is Rubro-Negro da Gávea. It guarantees that in the final it will not be divided.
“In France, I support PSG, because I live here and also because of the link that the club has always had with Brazilian players. I was delighted to win the Champions League, for example… but, in Wednesday’s final, I will be 100% Flamengo. For me, Flamengo is different from PSG and the Brazilian team. Flamengo is more important”, guarantees Marcelin.
Assumptions and hero candidates
With a mixture of anxiety and optimism, the supporters are confident in Flamengo’s victory and are already projecting the score and what the party will be like in the middle of Paris.
“2-0, for Flamengo, of course. As Arrascaeta has 98 goals for Flamengo, it would be great if he scored two against PSG and reached his hundredth in the World Cup final,” guesses Frenchman Marcelin. The Brazilian Danilo bets on a “2 against 1, with goals from Arrascaeta and Brunho Henrique”.
“I would say 2-1, but without suffering. The goals could come from Arrascaeta and Brunho Henrique, but if Pedro is able to play, I will risk a 3-1 with him too,” said Cidel, optimistically. And the candidate for the title of hero is almost unanimous: “Always Arrascaeta”, sum up the red-blacks.
Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain face each other this Wednesday, at 2 p.m. (Brasilia time) at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar. If it wins, PSG will win the Intercontinental for the first time in its history. If Rubro-Negro is champion, he will guarantee his second World Cup and will delight more than 45 million supporters. Even in Paris.
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