UEFA confirms the cancellation of the match between Spain and Argentina. The reason why the famous Finalissima will no longer take place
UEFA has announced that the Finalissima, the scheduled match between World Cup winners Argentina and European champions Spain, will no longer take place.
Finalissima between Argentina and Spain, canceled Photo/Profimedia
The game was originally scheduled for March 27 in Qatar, but armed conflicts in the Middle East prevented it from taking place at the scheduled venue. The European forum tried to find alternatives, including moving the game to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium or holding the final over two legs, in Spain and Argentina.
Despite these proposals, the parties involved failed to reach an agreement, and UEFA said that while it had explored several options, none were deemed acceptable by the Argentine Football Federation. Thus, the historic match between the two great international teams will not take place as originally planned.
“Following lengthy discussions between UEFA and the Qatari organizing authorities, it is today announced that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima between UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 champions Argentina cannot be played as hoped in Qatar on 27 March.
The conflict in the Middle East led to the cancellation of the event
It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organizers that circumstances and timing have deprived teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious trophy in Qatar – a country that has time and again demonstrated its ability to stage world-class international events in state-of-the-art facilities.
UEFA wishes to express its deep gratitude to the organizing committee and the relevant authorities in Qatar for their efforts in trying to host the match, as well as the certainty that peace will soon return to the region.
The Finalissima was introduced as part of the close partnership between UEFA and CONMEBOL and brings the European champions together with the South American champions in a celebration of the highest level of international football. Reigning world champions Argentina won the inaugural edition in 2022 with a 3-0 win over Italy at London's Wembley Stadium.
“UEFA explored other feasible but unacceptable alternatives!”
With a firm determination to save this important match, and despite the understandable difficulties of relocating a match of such importance at such an extreme deadline in short, UEFA explored other feasible alternatives, but each ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentine Football Federation.
The first option was to play the match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid on the original date, with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium. This would have offered a world-class setting, worthy of such a prestigious event, but Argentina refused.
The second option was to organize the Finalissima in two legs – one at the Santiago Bernabéu on 27 March and the other in Buenos Aires as part of an international window ahead of UEFA EURO and Copa America 2028, again offering a 50:50 supporter split for the Madrid fixture. This option was also rejected.
Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, should a neutral venue in Europe be found, the match could be played on 27 March, as planned and announced on 18 December 2025, or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected.
They could not agree on the date either
Argentina submitted a counter-offer to play the match after the World Cup, but as Spain have no dates available, this option had to be ruled out. In the end, and contrary to the originally agreed plan that the match was to take place on 27 March, Argentina declared their willingness to play exclusively on 31 March, a date that proved impossible to accept.
As a result, and to UEFA's regret, this edition of the Finalissima has been cancelled.
UEFA would like to express its sincere thanks to Real Madrid CF and the organizing committee and Qatari authorities for their support and cooperation in trying to organize this match. In the case of Real Madrid, their efforts were made in an extremely short period of time. Thanks also go to the Spanish Football Federation for the flexibility it has shown by adapting to all the options proposed during this process!”the release states.
