Argentina, Spain Finalissima in Qatar called off

NYON, Switzerland:

UEFA said on Sunday that the game between Argentina and Spain known as Finalissima that was supposed to be held in Qatar has been cancelled after the widening Middle East war.

The game between South American champions Argentina and European champions Spain was scheduled to be held in Doha on March 27. It was going to be a marquee matchup between the teams led by Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal before this summer's World Cup in North America.

But the security of the game was put into serious doubt when Iran intensified its attacks on neighbouring countries in retaliation to the aerial attacks by United States and Israel that are now in their third week.

"After much discussion between UEFA and the organising authorities in Qatar, it is announced today that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima between UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain and CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 champions Argentina cannot be played as hoped in Qatar on 27 March," UEFA said in a statement.

Argentina and Spain were to play at Lusail Stadium, which staged the epic 2022 World Cup final. Argentina won a penalty shootout against France after Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe got a hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

OTHER VENUES

Other venues had reportedly been considered as alternatives to Doha, including Spain's capital. UEFA, however, said all other feasible alternatives it explored "ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association".

"The first option was to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on the original date with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium," UEFA said. "This would have provided a world-class setting, befitting of such a prestigious event, but Argentina refused."

The option of staging the event over two legs -- one in Madrid on March 27, the other in Buenos Aires before the Euros and Copa America in 2028 -- was also rejected. Argentina had proposed to play the match later this year after the World Cup but Spain had no available dates.

South American soccer body Conmebol said in a statement on Sunday that Argentina's soccer federation (AFA) received an offer from UEFA to play the match in Italy on March 27, but the defending World Cup and Copa America champions countered that the game take place on March 31.

- AP