For the first time since 2014, Mexican giants Cruz Azul are in a FIFA club tournament, as they get ready for action in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™. La Maquina earned their spot in the tournament after winning the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, a record seventh continental title.
Now, they will take aim at a bigger prize in Qatar, where they will face 2025 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo in the FIFA Derby of the Americas™, with the winner of that affair advancing to the FIFA Challenger Cup™ against Pyramids FC. Victories in both of those encounters would see Cruz Azul reach the Intercontinental Cup against European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Fans of Cruz Azul can rest easy knowing that their team are in safe hands with goalkeeper Andres Gudino. The veteran shot-stopper has been with the club since 2019 and has served as the team’s No1 during their current run in the Liga MX play-offs, in which they will take on Tigres in a two-legged semi-final before departing for Qatar.
FIFA sat down with Cruz Azul’s man in net to get his thoughts on the club’s preparation for the Intercontinental Cup and the dream of meeting PSG in the final.
Andres Gudino: Yes, of course, to be in action is always good, especially when you are playing so many important and close matches that are difficult. It’s really good for the team.
Yes, it is very motivating because we know about the importance of the tournament, we know that it’s an international tournament, a FIFA tournament. The biggest teams are going, high-profile teams, so it fills us with motivation and I’m sure that we are going to face them with great enthusiasm and with great determination as well.
It’s very important because when you are in such a big club like Cruz Azul, you are obligated to go for everything and try to win everything, so that is what we are going to do.
We know about Flamengo’s stature. They just won the Copa Libertadores, they are a great team. We had the opportunity to watch the match, but we are prepared. We are going to play the way we have been playing in our league, so we are going to play with full desire and I’m sure we’re going to have a good performance there.
Yes, much respect to Pachuca because they played a great Intercontinental Cup. They made the final and besides that, they played great football. That is to be respected and congratulated. But we are going to go there to play our own tournament and we’re going there to have a great performance. We have confidence, we have faith in each other, so we’re going there with the highest spirits to have a good Intercontinental Cup.
Yes, of course. Just knowing that there are teams of such prestige and stature there in the tournament fills us with inspiration. The tangible possibility of playing a future final against PSG is incredible.
Yes, I have spent a long time here and ever since I arrived, they have supported me in the best way. Cruz Azul means everything. They were the ones who opened their doors to me to start playing in the first division and allow me to fulfill the dream I had since I was a boy. So yes, Cruz Azul means everything to me.
