CONMEBOL confirms date for Finalissima between Messi’s Argentina and Yamal’s Spain
The 2026 Finalissima between the Argentina and Spain national teams has sparked major excitement from fans, as it promises the first-ever showdown between legend Lionel Messi and rising star Lamine Yamal. Amid earlier uncertainty over the final’s scheduling, the South American football body CONMEBOL has now officially confirmed the event’s timing.
After the competition returned in 2022 — with Argentina defeating Italy — the success of that edition prompted both CONMEBOL and UEFA to pursue another installment. With Argentina crowned Copa America champions once again and Spain winning the 2024 UEFA European Championship, a generational clash was set in motion.
Due to packed international calendars and the upcoming UEFA World Cup qualifiers, finding a window for the Finalissima seemed difficult. However, reports from two weeks ago suggested that Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzan and AFA president Claudio Tapia had reached an agreement to hold the match in March 2026, a date that is now official.
CONMEBOL listed the Finalissima among its official 2026 competitions on its website. While most events had specific dates, the entry for the Finalissima states only “March 2026,” with the exact day still to be determined.
The match is expected to take place in the third week of March, during the international break. Although both the date and venue remain unconfirmed, the two confederations are now actively laying the groundwork for a long-anticipated meeting between Messi and Yamal, a clash poised to be remembered for years.
Finalissima conditions remain unchanged
Although CONMEBOL has confirmed the month for the Finalissima, the match is still subject to Spain’s World Cup qualifying scenario. Under UEFA’s qualification rules, only the winner of each of the 12 groups earns a direct spot at the 2026 World Cup. Runners-up must compete in the playoff round.
Spain has been placed in Group E, where it will face Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia in two-legged fixtures. If Yamal’s squad finishes first or avoids the playoffs altogether, the Finalissima will take place in March. However, if Spain finishes second and is forced into the playoff path, the match will once again be suspended, as the playoffs are also scheduled for that same March window.