La Finalissima in doubt?! Copa America champions Argentina and Lionel Messi have no idea when they will play Euro 2024 winners Spain due to packed fixture schedule

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No date has been set for the 2025 edition of the Finalissima between Euro 2024 winners Spain and Lionel Messi’s Copa America champions Argentina.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Argentine journalist Gaston Edul has reported that no decision has been made on when the 2025 Finalissima will be played due to failure to find a suitable space on the match calendar. Fixture congestion with World Cup qualifying and UEFA Nations League fixtures have made it a challenge to squeeze the extra game in.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

After earlier editions in 1985 and 1993, the Finalissima was relaunched in 2022 as part of a working relationship between UEFA and CONMEBOL, pitting the champions of Europe and South America against each other. Argentina, as 2021 Copa America champions, beat Euro 2020 winners Italy at Wembley in the first men’s iteration of the rebranded contest. But Argentina and Spain already have jam-packed schedule throughout 2025. Argentina are deep in 2026 World Cup qualifying in every international break between now and next September. For Spain, 2024-25 UEFA Nations League action begins next month and later makes way for Word Cup qualifying, ensuring they currently have no availability in any international break until 2026.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Finalissima was first established in 1985 but was discontinued in 1993. It was re-established in 2022, and was won by Argentina, as they beat Italy 3-0 at Wembley.

WHAT NEXT?

If UEFA and CONMEBOL want the men’s Finalissima to go ahead in 2025 and not risk the competition being a shortlived flash in the pan, they may have no choice but to try and force an extra game into an existing two-game international window. But that will only further exacerbate concerns over congestion and implications for player welfare.