The presidents of the RFEF and the AFA, Rafael Louzán and Claudio Tapia have reached an agreement to play the finalissima, a match that will dispose of the current European champions, Spain against the Copa América winners, Argentina. The game will take place at the end of March 2026, in the Run-U.[naardeWereldbekervandevolgendezomer[tonextsummer’sWorldCup
Before the competition to continue as planned, however, both countries must successfully book their place at the World Cup. The only available date in the FIFA calendar is between 26 and 31 March, the period reserved for the play-off games of the World Cup. That is no problem for Argentina, who have already protected their place at the World Cup 2026.
Not yet Spain. For the Luis de la Fuente team, the journey to the final of next summer in September starts.
La Roja plays his first two games against Bulgaria (Sofia, September 4) and Turkey (Konya, September 7) before organizing Georgia in Elche in October.
In the meantime, Argentina have mathematically qualified the South -American classification with 35 points and together with Ecuador and Brazil for the final with two more games to play.
Spanish route to 2026 World Cup USA
Nobody expects that Spain will eventually fight in the Play-Offs (the top team in each group automatically qualifies while second place goes to the play-off round). However, if it happens unimaginable, the finalissima should be called because there would be no free dates to play the game – apart from the June window just before the World Cup, something that does not want to do neither Argentina nor Spain.
The first meeting to organize this second edition of the 'Finalissima' was held last winter in Asunción, Paraguay on the occasion of the 75th FIFA congress. Both FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his UEFA opposite Aleksander Ceferin encouraged the RFEF and the AFA to try to find a slot that fits both teams so that the game can continue.
There has only been an earlier edition of the Finalissima – when Argentina defeated Italy 3-0 in Wembley in London in June 2022.
The event effectively replaced the old Artemio Franchi Cup, held in 1985 and 1993 with France and Argentina as respective winners, in what Maradona's last title was with the Albiceleste.
Where is the Finissima 2026 being played?
Once a date has been set, organizers must define a location to play the game. London has offered to organize the final again, but there are very attractive offers from both Qatar and Saudi Aarabia, the country that has shown the greatest interest in organizing the competition for the time being.