The Finalissima is set for the Santiago Bernabeu. The match between Spain, champions of Euro 2024, and Argentina, champions of the 2024 Copa America, will be played on 27 March if there are no last-minute changes. The decision on the location of the match seems to be close to an end after the decision not to play it in Qatar due to war problems in the region.
UEFA and CONMEBOL’s original plan was to play at the Lusail Stadium, the venue for the 2022 World Cup final. However, the Qatar Football Association announced the suspension of all tournaments and competitions in the country due to instability arising from the conflict in the Middle East, which opened a period of reflection on whether the match should be moved to another country.
In this scenario, the organisers said that a final decision would be made over the following week while they held talks with the Qatari authorities. With Qatar losing ground as hosts, alternatives began to emerge. Among them, two cities appeared strongly: Miami and London. Both were emerging as the strongest options to host the clash between the European and South American champions, although Miami quickly dropped out and London lost momentum. The idea was to move the event to a venue with immediate infrastructure and easy access for players who mostly play for European clubs. Lisbon, Paris, Rome… a venue was sought against the clock and, after much negotiation, it seems that Madrid will host the eagerly awaited clash between Spain and Argentina.
Argentina defends the crown
The Finalissima, the successor to the old Artemio Franchi Cup, pits the champions of the European Championship and the Copa America against each other in a single match. The last edition was held in 2022 at Wembley and ended with a victory for Argentina over Italy, in the first major title of the modern era of the tournament jointly promoted by UEFA and CONMEBOL.
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