2024 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup: Flamengo vs Olympiacos at the Maracanã

The third Under-20 Intercontinental Cup will be played on Saturday 24 August between 2023/24 UEFA Youth League winners Olympiacos and CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20 victors Flamengo at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The U20 Intercontinental Cup pits the youth champions of Europe against their South American counterparts, in a showdown agreed after UEFA and CONMEBOL signed a renewed and extended Memorandum of Understanding on 15 December 2021.

Who will play in the 2024 U20 Intercontinental Cup?

Flamengo, winners of the 2024 Libertadores Sub-20 in March, are set to meet Olympiacos, the UEFA Youth League holders.

Both teams won those competitions for the first time this year. However, whereas Olympiacos had never previously claimed a UEFA title (albeit their senior team won the Europa Conference League a month later), Flamengo were already familiar with continental success. At senior level, the Brazilian side have clinched three Copa Libertadores titles, several other CONMEBOL trophies and the 1981 European/South American Cup.

How did each team get there?

In March, Flamengo overcame Libertadores Sub-20 holders (and 2023 U20 Intercontinental Cup winners) Boca Juniors 2-1 in Maldonado, Uruguay, to secure the South American crown.

The following month, Olympiacos earned their place by defeating AC Milan 3-0 in Nyon, Switzerland, to win the UEFA Youth League, Greece's first-ever UEFA club trophy.

When will the U20 Intercontinental Cup be played?

The game will be held on Saturday 24 August 2024. The kick-off time is to be confirmed.

Where will the U20 Intercontinental Cup be played? 

There are few stadiums more famous than the Maracanã, which famously set a world-record attendance for the 1950 FIFA World Cup decider between Brazil and Uruguay. Following reconstruction, it also staged the 2014 World Cup final, in which Germany defeated Argentina.

Among the many previous big games to be held there are three Copa América finals, the 2016 Olympic men's and women's football gold-medal matches (and opening and closing ceremonies), the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup decider and the 2020 and 2023 Copa Libertadores showpieces (since the move to one-off matches in 2019), as well as several major sporting and non-sporting events.

It is the home of Rio de Janeiro rivals Flamengo and Fluminense, and on three occasions hosted matches in the European/South American Cup under its original two-legged format, all involving Santos:

1962 first leg: Santos 3-2 Benfica
1963 second leg: Santos 4-2 AC Milan
1963 play-off: Santos 1-0 AC Milan

How does the U20 Intercontinental Cup work?

The U20 Intercontinental Cup is a one-off fixture played over 90 minutes. There is no extra time, so if the game finishes level at the end of regulation time, the title will be decided on penalties. The referees for this edition will be appointed by CONMEBOL.

Up to a maximum of five of the 11 substitutes listed on each team's match sheet can take part in the match. Both teams have to register at least two goalkeepers.

The two sides are permitted to use a maximum of three stoppages in play to make their substitutions. Substitutions made during half-time do not reduce the number of stoppages in play that can be used.

A player who has been substituted can take no further part in the match.

The FIFA disciplinary code applies to incidents occurring during the match. However, yellow and red cards are cancelled at the end of the game and not carried forward to any other UEFA, CONMEBOL or FIFA competition.

Where to watch Flamengo vs Olympiacos on TV and streaming

Details to follow.

Who played in the previous U20 Intercontinental Cups?

In the inaugural 2022 edition, Benfica triumphed 1-0 against Uruguay's Peñarol at the famous Estadio Centenario in Montevideo in front of 40,579 fans.

A year later, Boca Juniors took the trophy with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory after a 1-1 draw against AZ Alkmaar in front of 37,386 spectators at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.

Why was the U20 Intercontinental Cup introduced?

The match is part of the expansion of the cooperation between UEFA and CONMEBOL, which notably includes women's football, futsal and youth categories, the exchange of referees, technical training schemes and the Finalissima games between the EURO and Copa América winners.

The first contest to be held was the men's Finalissima in 2022. Argentina beat Italy 3-0 at Wembley.

The same stadium staged the first Women's Finalissima in 2023, and this time the game went Europe's way as England defeated Brazil 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw.

There is also a men's Futsal Finalissima, first held in 2022 in Buenos Aires as a four-team tournament involving two teams each from UEFA and CONMEBOL. Both European nations won their semi-finals against South American counterparts, and in the final EURO holders Portugal defeated Spain on penalties, while Paraguay overcame hosts and Copa América winners Argentina for bronze.

The U20 Intercontinental Cup has been inspired by the European/South American Cup, which was played between the winners of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League between 1960 and 2004. The last European/South American Cup final was won by Portuguese side Porto on penalties against Once Caldas of Colombia.

Another fixture, the European Club Challenge, was launched in 2023, with the pilot edition on 19 July 2023 pitting 2022/23 UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla against the winners of the 2022 CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. Sevilla won on penalties.

Had the European youth champions and Libertadores Sub-20 winners met before in an official showdown?

The 2022 edition was the first time the youth champions from the two contests had met in a formal, scheduled fixture.