The highly anticipated 'Finalissima' match between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for 27 March in Qatar, has been cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, UEFA announced on Sunday.
The match was set to take place at the Lusail Stadium near Doha, the venue of the 2022 World Cup final. UEFA stated that after discussions with Qatari authorities, it was concluded that the match could not proceed because of the 'current political situation' in the region.
UEFA explored alternative venues, including Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, with a 50:50 split of supporters, and a two-legged format with matches in Madrid and Buenos Aires. However, both options were rejected by the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).
Argentina made a counter-offer to play after the World Cup, but Spain had no available dates. The cancellation is a blow to the revived Finalissima, which Argentina won 3-0 against Italy in the 2022 edition at Wembley.
Other sporting events have also been affected by the conflict, with Formula One cancelling April's grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and MotoGP postponing the Qatar Grand Prix from April to November.
