Messi vs. Yamal at Bernabeu?! So surreal that it could actually be true
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 12.03.26. | 21:11
Madrid is emerging as the leading candidate to host the Finalissima, but Argentina's federation is far from convinced
The Finalissima seemed to be heading for the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but the Argentine Football Association are far from convinced by that option.
The clash between Spain, winners of UEFA Euro 2024, and Argentina, champions of Copa America 2024, is scheduled for March 27 - unless a last-minute twist changes the script.
For a moment, it seemed the venue question was close to being resolved after the decision to rule out Qatar due to the ongoing conflict in the region. But the debate is far from over, with key stakeholders still unable to agree on the venue for the highly anticipated showdown.
As Marca reports, the original plan from UEFA and CONMEBOL was to stage the match at Lusail Stadium, the venue that hosted the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the Qatar Football Association announced the suspension of all tournaments and sporting events in the country amid the instability caused by tensions in the Middle East. That decision forced organisers to rethink the entire plan and consider moving the match elsewhere.
At the time, officials said a final decision would be made the following week while talks continued with Qatari authorities. With Qatar gradually falling out of contention as host, alternative locations quickly emerged. Two cities initially surged to the front of the queue: Miami and London. Both appeared to be strong candidates to stage the meeting between the champions of Europe and South America.
But the picture kept shifting. Miami soon faded from the race, while London’s chances also began to cool. Organisers were searching for a venue with immediate infrastructure and easy access for players - most of whom compete for clubs across Europe. Lisbon, Paris and Rome were all floated as possibilities as the clock ticked down. After intense negotiations, Madrid appeared to be gaining momentum as the likely destination - though that is an option the AFA, and by extension CONMEBOL, are far from enthusiastic about.
Adding another complication to the equation, the Wanda Metropolitano (Atletico Madrid's home) is already scheduled to host an international friendly between Morocco and Ecuador on that same day, March 27.
The Finalissima - successor to the historic Artemio Franchi Cup - pits the champions of the Euro and the Copa America against each other in a one-off clash. The most recent edition took place in 2022 at Wembley Stadium, where Argentina defeated Italy to lift the trophy, claiming the first major title of the tournament's modern era under the joint stewardship of UEFA and CONMEBOL.