The ‘Finalissima’ clash between Euro 2024 winners Spain and world champions Argentina, set to take place on March 27 in Qatar has been cancelled, UEFA said on Sunday.
The European football governing body said in a statement that it was “not possible to reach an agreement with Argentina” on an alternative date and location, as required due to the Middle East war.
“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organisers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar,” said UEFA in a statement.
The Finalissima pits the latest Copa America winners against the European Championship winners, with Argentina winning the inaugural edition by beating Italy at Wembley Stadium in London in 2022.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup with his country in Qatar later that year.
The match against Spain would have been the first time the Argentine, widely considered the best player of all time, had faced teenage star Lamine Yamal, whom many consider his successor at Barcelona.
UEFA said they had investigated several alternative options to playing in Qatar, “but each ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association.”
The first option was to play at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, which Argentina rejected.
UEFA then suggested a two-legged tie, with the first match in the Spanish capital on March 27 and a second leg in Buenos Aires sometime before the 2028 Euros and Copa America, but that proposal was also turned down.
They then proposed playing a one-off match at another neutral venue in Europe on March 27 or March 30, but Argentina said they could no longer play on the original date and were only available on March 31.
“As a result, and to UEFA’s regret, this edition of the Finalissima has been cancelled,” added UEFA.
