However, as the Middle Eastern country continues to be in conflict with the United States and Israel and has become a target for attacks by Iran, there was considerable uncertainty as to whether things would proceed as planned. It was previously reported that Argentine authorities are seeking to postpone the match by a few days, while insisting it be held at a neutral venue instead. However, the negotiations were fruitless and the match was cancelled.
“Following consultations between UEFA and the Qatari organizing authorities, we have today announced that due to the current political situation in the region, the final between UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain and CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 winners Argentina cannot be held as planned in Qatar on March 27,” organizers said in a statement.
“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organizers that the circumstances and timing did not allow the team the chance to compete for this prestigious award in Qatar, which has demonstrated time and time again its ability to host world-class international events in its state-of-the-art facilities.
“UEFA would like to express its deep gratitude to the organizing committee and the relevant authorities in Qatar for their efforts in organizing the match, and for their confidence that peace will soon return to the region.”
It added: “With a strong determination to preserve this important match, and despite the understandable difficulties of changing such an important match at short notice, UEFA considered other viable alternatives, none of which ultimately proved acceptable to the Argentine Football Association.”
“The first option was to hold the match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on the original date and split the supporters in the stadium 50/50, which would have provided a world-class environment befitting such a prestigious event, but Argentina refused.
“The second option was to split the Finalissima into two matches, the first at the Santiago Bernabéu on March 27th and the second in Buenos Aires during the international period before UEFA EURO and Copa America 2028, with the proposal to once again have a 50/50 ratio of supporters for the match in Madrid. This option was also rejected.
“Ultimately, UEFA requested a commitment from Argentina that if a neutral venue could be found in Europe, the match would be held on March 27, as scheduled and announced for December 18, 2025, or on an alternative date, March 30. This proposal was also rejected.
“Argentina made a counter-proposal to play the match after the World Cup, but that option had to be ruled out as Spain had no free dates. In the end, contrary to the originally agreed plan that the match would be played on March 27, Argentina declared that the match could only be played on March 31, but that date proved unfeasible.”
“As a result, unfortunately for UEFA, this Finalissima has been cancelled.”
