The 'Finalissima' football match between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for 27 March in Qatar, has been cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The match was set to take place at Lusail Stadium near Doha, the venue for the 2022 World Cup final.
Uefa, European football's governing body, said discussions with Qatari organisers concluded that the match could not proceed because of the 'current political situation' in the region. Uefa expressed disappointment that circumstances prevented the teams from competing for the prize.
Uefa explored alternative venues, including Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, but the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) rejected the proposals. A two-legged option was also turned down. Argentina offered to play after the World Cup, but Spain had no available dates.
The cancellation is a setback for the Finalissima, which was revived in 2022 when Argentina beat Italy 3-0 at Wembley. Other sporting events have also been affected, with Formula One cancelling races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and MotoGP postponing the Qatar Grand Prix.
