D010-VARIOS SE SUSPENDE LA FINALISIMA DE DOHA

The 'Finalissima' match between Spain and Argentina that was scheduled to be held in Qatar later this month has been cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East, UEFA said in a statement on Sunday (March 15).

The contest between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha's Lusail Stadium.

UEFA said they held discussions with the organising authorities in Qatar and concluded that the match could not take place due to the "current political situation" in the region.

"It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organisers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar," UEFA said in a statement.

UEFA said they explored other feasible alternatives but they proved to be 'unacceptable' to the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).

UEFA first offered to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium.

A second option was to stage the Finalissima over two legs -- at the Bernabeu on March 27 and the second leg in Buenos Aires during an international window before the next Euros and Copa America.

However, the AFA rejected both options. UEFA said Argentina made a counter offer to play the game after the World Cup but Spain had no available dates.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (FILE – JULY 15, 2024) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE)

1. VARIOUS STILL PHOTOS OF LIONEL MESSI LIFTING THE COPA AMERICA TROPHY AMONGST TEAMMATES AFTER HIS SIDE BEAT COLOMBIA IN THE FINAL

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FILE - JULY 15, 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. ARGENTINE FANS GATHERING AT OBELISK MONUMENT AFTER COPA AMERICA WIN

3. FIREWORKS

4. FANS CELEBRATING

EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (JULY 15, 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

5. VARIOUS OF BUS CARRYING ARGENTINA’S COPA AMERICA-WINNING TEAM DRIVING PAST

6. FANS

EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 2, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. MESSI AMONGST TEAMMATES PASSING THE BALL TO EACH IN THE AIR

8. PLAYERS GOING THROUGH PASSING DRILLS

9. MESSI GOING THROUGH PASSING DRILL

10. PLAYERS GOING THROUGH PASSING DRILLS

11. SCALONI HANDING OUT BIB BEFORE WALKING OFF

12. RONDO DRILL

13. MESSI DURING RONDO DRILL

BERLIN, GERMANY (FILE – JULY 14, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE)

14. VARIOUS STILL PHOTOS OF ALVARO MORATA LIFTING THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AMONGST TEAMMATES FOLLOWING SPAIN’S WIN OVER ENGLAND IN THE EURO 2024 FINAL

15. STILL PHOTO OF SPAIN MIDFIELDER RODRI HOLDING TROPHY AMONGST TEAMMATES

MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - JULY 15, 2024) (RFEF - Must not obscure logo)

16. VIEW OF SPANISH FANS GATHERED AT CIBELES SQUARE

17. VARIOUS OF MORATA BRINGING OUT TROPHY ON STAGE IN CELEBRATION

18. SPAIN PLAYERS DANCING ON STAGE

19. VIEW OF STAGE WITH FANS WATCHING ON

20. VARIOUS OF MORATA INTRODUCING COACH LUIS DE LA FUENTE OUT ON STAGE

21. VARIOUS OF CONFETTI GOING OFF ON STAGE WITH SLOW MOTION SHOT OF SPANISH PLAYERS

MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - JULY 15, 2024) (REUTERS – Access all)

22. SPANISH PLAYERS ON STAGE WITH TROPHY AS CONFETTI RAINS DOWN

KONYA, TURKEY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

23. PLAYERS KICKING BALLS & WALKING INTO POSITION FOR LARGER RONDO DRILL DURING SPAIN TRAINING