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Lionel Messi and Argentina have been left scrambling after the cancellation of their highly anticipated showcase match during the March international break. The defending World Cup and Copa America champions were scheduled to play their second straight Finalissima against Euro 2024 champions Spain.
Unfortunately, that game will not go on as planned, with host nation Qatar unable to provide security assurances amid the growing Middle Eastern conflict. This has left Argentina scrambling for a replacement match to avoid wasting precious game time ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Sporting News has everything you need to know about why the match was cancelled and who Argentina may schedule as a replacement opponent in the coming weeks after the trophy game was called off.
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Argentina fixtures schedule, March 2026 games
Now that the Finalissima against Spain has been cancelled, Argentina currently have no scheduled matches for the March international break, a key fixture window with the World Cup coming up in the summer.
With the Finalissima cancelled just weeks before the scheduled match date, it has left both teams scrambling for a replacement. Spain are likely not falling head-over-heels to search for another opponent, as they already have a friendly against Egypt scheduled for March 30 back home, which was quickly arranged after the annulment of the match against Argentina.
However, Argentina's second match for the March window was a friendly against Qatar at Lusail Stadium, which was also cancelled due to the hostilities. This has left them with nothing on the calendar for the upcoming international window.
The March international break is the final official FIFA international window before the summer window opens in mid-June.
It's likely that Argentina are already working on finding a last-minute replacement, but the level of competition probably won't be sensational. Argentine journalist Hernan Castillo has reported that while the federation, along with help from CONMEBOL, searches for a last-minute replacement, the backup plan is to play a friendly against the Argentina U-20 team, which would be a disappointing end result.
Why was the Finalissima cancelled?
With the military conflict between the United States and Iran escalating to open hostilities, the Middle East region has been thrown into chaos, including Qatar where the match was supposed to be held.
On Sunday, March 15, UEFA announced the Finalissima had been cancelled because the Argentinian FA had not agreed to alternative proposals that included switching the match to Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, either as a one-off match or a two-legged tie.
"With strong determination to save the important fixture, and despite the understandable difficulties of relocating a match of such importance at extremely short notice, UEFA explored other feasible alternatives but each ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association," a UEFA statement read.
"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. This would have provided a world class setting, befitting of prestigious event, but Argentina refused.
"The second was to stage the Finalissima over two legs - one at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 27 and the other in Buenos Aires during an international window before UEFA EURO and Copa America 2028, again offering a supporter split of 50:50 for the match in Madrid. This option was also rejected.
"Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on March 27, as planned ... or on the alternative date of March 30. This proposal was also rejected. Argentina made a counter suggestion to play the game after the World Cup but, as Spain has no available dates, that option had to be ruled out.
Finally, and contrary to the original agreed plan that the match would take place on March 27, UEFA stated Argentina declared its availability to play exclusively on March 31, a date which proved to be unworkable for the European governing body.
"As a result, and to UEFA's regret, this edition of the Finalissima has been cancelled."
When is Argentina's first World Cup game?
Argentina begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup with a match against Algeria in Group J play.
The game will kick off on June 16, 2026 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the home of the Chiefs of the NFL. That kickoff date is five days after the official start of the World Cup on June 11.
Argentina will then have subsequent matches against Austria and Jordan in group stage play, hoping to secure a knockout stage place against a qualifier from Group H (Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay).
If they end up playing Spain, that would make for a delicious matchup of the two opponents from the cancelled Finalissima.
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