Finalissima 2026: Argentina vs Spain preview, date, venue & betting odds
Lusail Stadium in Qatar will host the second edition of the Finalissima since the fixture’s relaunch in 2022, as Argentina and Spain fight for the trophy in the desert.
The 2026 Finalissima takes place on Friday, March 27, 2026. Kick-off time is 21:00 local time, which is 19:00 CET.
What is the Finalissima?
The Finalissima is an intercontinental football match organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA. It pits the winners of the Copa America against the champions of the UEFA European Championship.
Argentina featured in the last showpiece four years ago, dismantling Italy 3-0 at Wembley Stadium and setting the stage for their iconic 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph later that year.
Lionel Messi, who captained his country to both victories, is likely to wear the armband when La Albiceleste take on defending Euro champions Spain on Friday, March 27.
However, Argentina go into the match as 13/5 outsiders, while Spain are slight 11/10 favourites to claim victory.
Where is the 2026 Finalissima?
The game will take place at Lusail Stadium, where Argentina hoisted the World Cup trophy in 2022.
Lionel Scaloni’s side played four matches at this stadium, including a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their curtain-raising World Cup fixture.
However, the South American giants bounced back to win their next three matches in Lusail, overcoming Mexico and Croatia before defeating France in the grand final.
Spain will make their debut appearance at the largest stadium in Qatar and the Middle East by capacity.
How does the Finalissima work?
The Finalissima is a single 90-minute match with no extra time. If the scores are level at the end of regulation, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.
The referee is jointly appointed by CONMEBOL and UEFA, and the showdown will feature VAR, goalline technology and semi-automated offside technology.
Meet the teams
Spain secured their spot by winning the 2024 European Championship in Germany, squeaking past England 2-1 in the Berlin final to claim the title for the fourth time.
In addition to their dominant Euro 2024 run, Luis de la Fuente’s side produced a strong 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, dropping points just once in six Group E outings.
La Furia Roja will be looking to win their second World Cup title in the summer, and beating Argentina in this clash of titans would be a statement win for Lamine Yamal and his teammates.
Whether the apprentice can outshine the master himself remains one of the key subplots of the match, as the Barcelona prodigy prepares to face Messi for the first time.
Argentina retained their Copa America crown in the United States in 2024, claiming a record 16th title with an extra-time victory over Colombia in the final in Florida.
Lionel Scaloni’s side booked their place at next summer’s World Cup, finishing top of the CONMEBOL qualifying group despite losing four games.
Clash of the titans
Spain closed out the last calendar year with a frustrating 2-2 draw against Turkey, ending a five-game winning streak in which they had scored 16 goals without reply.
Despite that setback, De la Fuente’s charges will take the field in high spirits, seeking another piece of silverware after snapping a decade-long drought two years ago.
La Furia Roja hammered Argentina 6-1 in a friendly in 2018, which evened the score after a 4-1 rout in their previous encounter.
Scaloni’s side will be out to get revenge and extend their three-game winning sequence, bookended by a 2-0 friendly win over Angola in November.
With each of the last four clashes between Spain and Argentina featuring at least three goals and both sides finding the net, fans can expect another high-octane, end-to-end showdown in Lusail.