Finalissima: Spain asks that it be in Europe, Qatar prepares return

So far, there have been no official changes and the match would still take place on March 27 at the Lusail Stadium.

The uncertainty around where the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain persists. While officially The date and venue has not yet moved from March 27 at the Lusail Stadium in Qatarthe cross versions continue about possible changes at the headquarters, 17 days from the stipulated day.

In the last hours, the one who spoke about the current state of the situation was the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzanwho announced in statements to SER Chain that, as of today, his team does not plan to play the match in the current conditions: “That’s very difficult. In fact, I must say that four days ago we canceled two charters that we had planned for this. But we are waiting to close this negotiation.”

In that sense, the boss made an express request for it to be played on the Old Continent, like the last edition, which took place at Wembley: “This is a match that should be played on neutral ground. Due to the circumstances, I think it is evident, it seems, that It must be in Europe. Because, in the end, if circumstances take us where they take us, most of the players are in Europe, both from Spain and Argentina. Therefore I think it seems logical that that is what could finally happen.”

“In a matter of hours the decision will be made. I hope, because of what we are negotiating with UEFA and others, it is a reasonable negotiation and that it is well seen by the vast majority,” Louzán said regarding the definition of the issue.

On another note, the highest authority in Spanish football explained the complexity of the agreement by mentioning that the match is part of a more comprehensive network: “This agreement is between UEFA and CONMEBOL through a promotion company that has contracted six football matches: Spain vs. Argentina, Spain vs. Egypt, Argentina vs. Qatar, Saudi Arabia vs. Serbia and two others (Qatar vs. Serbia and Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt). Everything goes into the same package, and therefore it is an issue that in the next few hours we will finally decide.“.

Football is back in Qatar, does it maintain the Finalissima?

The main reason that led to the analysis of the move of the Finalissima was the suspension of all football activities in the country where it was going to take place as of March 1, due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East from the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, and the consequences and uncertainty surrounding the event.

However, on Monday the host country took an important step by announcing the resumption of the Qatar Stars League (QSL), the country’s first division, starting Thursday the 12thas well as a schedule for the next five days of the championship. The information comes hand in hand with UEFA’s statements from the previous week, when it assured EFE that alternative venues for the duel were not yet being studied.

For now, The biggest push to change the scenario comes from Spain. In addition to Louzán’s recent statements, the first to speak out had been the coach Luis de la Fuentewho asked to “find another headquarters” even before any official pronouncement, and then the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE), the country’s main football union, demanded not to play in the Middle East for security reasons.

With information from EFE.