Spain set to face Argentina in 2026 Finalissima as FIFA announces late-March window
Finalissima (via Getty Images)
Spain's newly crowned European champions and Lionel Messi's Copa América-winning Argentina will collide in the Finalissima 2026 after FIFA penciled the intercontinental showcase into the international window of 23–31 March 2026. The decision, first revealed by Spanish daily Marca, creates a mouth-watering rematch of the 2022 spectacle in which Argentina swept aside Italy, and it places world football's two reigning continental monarchs on a collision course barely 80 days before the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America.
Spain-Argentina blockbuster waits for security green light with World Cup looming
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has selected the Finalissima (previously known as the European/South American Nations Cup or Artemio Franchi Cup) dates of March 23 and 31, 2026, for the match between Spain and Argentina.
Although FIFA has booked the late-March date, ratification is pending confirmation in its final stages, subject to coordination with Mexico City host-country security authorities and the 2026 World Cup organizers, with the June 11 opening day for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City. The Spanish newspaper Marca said FIFA will have to secure the nod from security authorities before playing this match, as the 2026 World Cup would be looming.
Security partners' approval is the last formality before tickets, TV spots, and commercial endorsements pour onto the market, but fans can already mark late March 2026 for a heavyweight encounter. Delegates from CONMEBOL, UEFA, the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) convened for the first time to plan the men's Finalissima, in which the title winners of the CONMEBOL
Copa América 2024
and the
UEFA EURO 2024
will face off. At the meeting, major issues like institutional goals, organizational roles, planning logistics, competition timetables for both sides, and provisional dates for the game were addressed.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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While Spain sharpens its master plan against the reigning world champions, Argentina's national team relies on championship memory. This Finalissima is ready to provide an appetizing World Cup dress rehearsal—and maybe one final intercontinental clash in the illustrious career of Lionel Messi. Either way, football fans can gather all the excitement to catch the thrilling battle between these teams next year.
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