Soccer authorities from Europe and South America are
set to hold a final meeting before Thursday to decide whether and where this
month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London
emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told
Reuters.
The match, originally scheduled for March 27 at Lusail
Stadium in Qatar, has become increasingly unlikely to go ahead there after the
Qatar Football Association suspended domestic tournaments indefinitely in
response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory missile launches
in the region.
Spain’s Football Federation (RFEF) has been pushing
for a quick resolution, mindful that the March international break is vital
preparation ahead of the June-July 2026 World Cup in North America. Spain coach
Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio that while stopping the conflict
remains the priority, “once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long
it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find
another venue as soon as possible.”
Wembley Stadium, which hosted the previous edition in
2022 when Argentina beat Italy, is unavailable due to an England vs Uruguay
fixture on the same day. However, London has other stadiums capable of staging
the event, making the English capital the most likely alternative should Doha
be ruled out.
Sources also revealed that Spain is exploring backup
options for opponents to avoid wasting the last window of international
fixtures before the World Cup. With Spain scheduled to face Egypt three days
later, any changes would require agreement between the RFEF, UEFA, CONMEBOL,
FIFA, and the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Madrid was initially proposed as a replacement venue
but rejected by Argentina, who preferred a neutral location. Morocco and Miami
were also considered, though both presented logistical or political challenges.
The final decision on the venue and opponent is
expected after the upcoming meeting, as federations work to safeguard
preparation time for the global tournament.
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