Spain and Argentina could meet again a few months after playing the final of the 2026 World Cup. The possibility of recovering the Finalissima, canceled in March due to the crisis in the Middle East and the lack of an alternative date, returned to the negotiating table.

Conversations to organize the meeting have already begun, according to Cadena SER reported this Tuesday. However, neither UEFA, nor CONMEBOL, nor the federations of Spain and Argentina officially announced a new agreement. There is also no confirmed date or venue for now.

The match would pit the champion of Euro 2024 against the winner of the Copa América 2024. But the context has changed since both teams won those titles: Spain has just become world champion after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The Finalissima would thus offer an immediate rematch between the two teams that dominated the last international cycle and would once again bring together Lionel Messi and some of the main figures of the new Spanish generation on the same field.

The Finalissima was canceled in March

The match was originally scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. UEFA had confirmed the venue, date and time in December 2025.

The plan collapsed three months later. On March 15, UEFA announced that the match could not be played in Qatar due to the political and security situation in the Middle East. The organization also explained that Spain did not have available dates to move it to another time on the international calendar.

CONMEBOL confirmed the cancellation that same day. The South American organization maintained that it had not been possible to reach a definitive agreement and noted that the proposed alternative date had not been accepted.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation, for its part, assured that it had offered different possibilities together with UEFA, but that the conditions prevented holding the match.

Why was the game talked about again?

The World Cup final once again placed the Spain-Argentina duel at the center of the scene. According to Cadena SER, Qatar maintains its interest in organizing the Finalissima and retains the rights related to the event. FIFA would also welcome the fact that the match can finally be held.

One of the possibilities analyzed would be to play the match in November 2026. That alternative, however, still faces an important problem: Spain must fulfill UEFA Nations League commitments during that international window.

The Spanish team has scheduled matches against the Czech Republic and England, which considerably reduces the margin to incorporate another highly demanding match.

Argentina will also have to reorganize its calendar after the World Cup and define the continuity of several central pieces of its sports project.

When would Spain vs. be played? Argentina?

For now there is no official answer. The possibility of November appears as an option in the talks, but has not yet been approved. For the match to take place it will be necessary to make the UEFA and CONMEBOL calendars compatible, find an available venue and obtain the agreement of the two federations.

It must also be decided whether Qatar continues as host. The Lusail stadium had been chosen for the original date and is the venue where Argentina won the 2022 World Cup.

Would Messi play in the Finalissima?

That is another of the great unknowns. Lionel Messi, 39, has not yet confirmed how long he will continue in the Argentine national team. The captain has just played in the 2026 World Cup and published a message in which he expressed his pain over the defeat against Spain, but did not announce a decision on his international future.

The meeting could also depend on the continuity of Lionel Scaloni. The Argentine coach stated that his contract ends in December 2026 and left open the discussion about a possible renewal.

Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, another of the figures of Argentina's most successful stage, also raised doubts about his continuity after the World Cup final.

The eventual presence of Messi would increase the sporting and commercial interest of the meeting. But, as with the date and venue, there is still no confirmation.

Argentina is the last champion of the Finalissima

The most recent edition was played on June 1, 2022 at Wembley Stadium in London. Argentina beat Italy 3-0 with goals from Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala.

That match marked the return of the competition that pits the champions of South America and Europe against each other. It had previously been played under the name Copa Artemio Franchi in 1985 and 1993.

The next edition was to pit Argentina against Spain, continental champions in 2024. The cancellation in March left the tournament suspended, but did not eliminate the interest of the organizers.

The 2026 World Cup final has now added a new attraction: if it finally comes to fruition, the Finalissima will no longer be just a duel between continental champions. It will also be revenge for the final that Spain just won in New Jersey.