CONMEBOL and UEFA convened on the sidelines of last week’s FIFA Congress in Paraguay to progress discussions regarding the staging of the second edition of the men’s Finalissima – the one-off intercontinental showdown between the champions of the 2024 Copa América and UEFA Euro 2024.

The highly anticipated clash will feature Argentina and Spain, currently ranked first and second respectively in the FIFA World Rankings. Talks centred around identifying the most suitable dates within the international calendar to stage what many consider a more immediate test of global supremacy than the longer-format FIFA World Cup.

The meeting included Claudio Tapia, President of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and Rafael Louzán, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), alongside senior administrative representatives from both CONMEBOL and UEFA.

UEFA confirmed that “key issues such as institutional objectives, organisational responsibilities, logistical planning, competition schedules for both teams, and tentative dates for the match were discussed.”

A major point of consideration is timing. With the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, there is uncertainty as to whether the Finalissima should take place before the tournament – thereby maintaining its prestige – or afterwards, when its significance may be diminished.

The venue also remains a crucial factor, particularly given the complex political dynamics between the two confederations. CONMEBOL has aligned more closely with FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, especially in support of the controversial proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams – a move that UEFA has resisted.

The first edition of the revamped Finalissima took place in June 2022 at a sold-out Wembley Stadium in London, where Argentina cruised to a 3–0 victory over Italy thanks to goals from Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María, and Paulo Dybala.

Should the 2026 Finalissima be scheduled for June, it could feasibly serve as a prelude to a potential rematch at the World Cup a month later. However, observers note that the 2026 tournament is shaping up to be a test of physical endurance over an extended campaign, rather than a showcase of the sport at its purest technical peak.