LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner's Trophy on Sergio 'Kun' Aguero's shoulders after the team's victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by David Ramos - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) FIFA via Getty Images March 2026 could see Lionel Messi and South American champion Argentina take on Lamine Yamal and European champion Spain in the ‘Finalissima’ trophy. A ‘Finalissima’ For The Ages The ‘Finalissima’ is a one-off soccer match between the champion of Europe and the champion of South America. At the moment those teams are Spain, for its 2024 European triumph, and Argentina, for its 2024 Copa America victory. Organizers have finally penciled in a preliminary date for this game. The March 2026 FIFA international break. This would be the perfect FIFA 2026 World Cup warm-up match, and perhaps it would determine who will be the favourite for next summer's big tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 09: Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrates victory after the UEFA EURO 2024 Semi-Final match between Spain and France at Munich Football Arena on July 09, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Getty Images Veteran Lionel Messi still captains Argentina, and 18 year-old Lamine Yamal is the hero of the Spanish national team. Messi is a Barcelona legend, and Yamal is the future of the club, who has just inherited the legendary number 10 jersey that Messi used to wear. These players represent so much in global soccer, and this could be the first and only time that they share the field. MORE FOR YOU Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal poses holding his new #10 jersey at the Camp Nou stadium's shop on July 16, 2025 in Barcelona. Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal inherited the club's number 10 shirt, previously worn by all-time great Lionel Messi, today. The 18-year-old winger, often compared to the Argentine superstar who also came through the club's La Masia youth academy, helped the Catalan giants win a domestic treble last season. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP) (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Where Will The Finalissima Be Played? Officials have not yet confirmed the location of the Finalissima match. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, England and Uruguay have all registered interest in hosting the event according to TYC Sports in Argentina. Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup when Argentina won the title and Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup. England, and Wembley stadium in particular, has hosted three Champions League finals since 2011. It also hosted the ‘Euro 2020’ Final in 2021 and the last version of the Finalissima, which took place in 2022. Argentina defeated Italy 3-0 that day. LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 01: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the Finalissima trophy after their sides victory during the 2022 Finalissima match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium on June 01, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) UEFA via Getty Images Montevideo, Uruguay is a romantic option for this fixture. The historic Estadio Centenario hosted the 1930 World Cup final when Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2. That was the first ever World Cup final. What’s more, the stadium is set to close its doors for refurbishment ahead of hosting just one game at the start of the FIFA 2030 World Cup, to celebrate the centenary of the biggest tournament in international sports. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will host the majority of the 2030 tournament. However Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will all host one game each to kick-off the tournament in homage to the World Cup that took place on South American soil in 1930. MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - NOVEMBER 12: A general view of the stands prior to the first leg of the FIFA 2006 World Cup Playoff between Uruguay and Australia at the Centenario Stadium November 12, 2005 in Montevideo, Uruguay. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Getty Images The Finalissima could be the last match Uruguay stages at the Estadio Centenario before it closes to prepare for the next World Cup. When you consider that Uruguay and South America didn’t win the bid to host the FIFA 2030 World Cup in its entirety, perhaps this would be a nice token. Europe hosted the last version of the Finalissima, so it seems fair that South America could host the event this time. Will There Definitely Be A Finalissima? There is an important caveat to this discussion. Teams can only play the Finalissima during the international window that falls between March 23rd and 31st, 2026. It’s the only space in the calendar, so Argentina and Spain need to be available to play, but the European champion might still be playing World Cup qualifying fixtures. Argentina have already qualified for next summer's tournament, but Spain is just about to begin its FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying group. If Spain finish top of the group it will qualify automatically for the World Cup in November 2025. However if Spain fails to finish top of the group and enters the European World Cup play-offs, Spain will not be available to play the Finalissima in March 2026. Organizers can agree on a venue and date in principle, but until Spain finishes its FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers in November nothing can be guaranteed. What is certain is that if this game goes ahead it will be a monumental occasion in international football. Seeing Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal on the same pitch would be historic. If South America hosts the game, fans will elevate the vibrancy, passion, and noise around the fixture to a whole new level. An aerial drone photo taken on June 26, 2025 shows the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay. Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. It is located in the southern end of the country, on the edge of the South Atlantic Ocean. (Photo by Meng Dingbo/Xinhua via Getty Images) Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions