The Finalissima clash between Argentina and Spain, scheduled for March 27, still does not have a confirmed venue as organisers continue evaluating alternatives following security concerns in the Middle East.
The match, which pits the Copa América champions Argentina against the UEFA European Championship winners Spain, was initially planned to take place at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the venue where Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, the escalating regional conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has forced organisers to reconsider the location due to safety concerns.
Spain proposes the Santiago Bernabéu
In response to the uncertainty, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) held discussions with UEFA and proposed the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid as a potential replacement venue.
The stadium, home of Real Madrid, has quickly emerged as the strongest candidate to host the match. However, the proposal still requires approval from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and CONMEBOL before it can be finalised.
According to reports, the Argentine federation is reluctant to stage the match in Spain, favouring a neutral venue instead.
Other venues ruled out
Before the Bernabéu gained momentum as the preferred option, several other venues had been considered.
Wembley Stadium in London was among the early candidates but was ruled out because England and Uruguay are scheduled to play a friendly there on the same weekend, with tickets already sold.
Another potential location was Miami, but that option was also dismissed as the Miami Open tennis tournament will occupy the Hard Rock Stadium during the same period.
Final decision still pending
With Lusail ruled out and alternatives such as Wembley and Miami unavailable, the Bernabéu currently appears to be the most viable option.
The final decision, however, will depend on whether the AFA agrees to play the match in Spain or if the organisers continue searching for a neutral stadium acceptable to both UEFA and CONMEBOL.