FIFA has officially confirmed that La Finalissima between Spain and Argentina will be played on March 27, 2026, at the iconic Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 local time.
The highly anticipated encounter is a one-off intercontinental final jointly organised by FIFA, UEFA, and CONMEBOL, pitting the reigning champions of Europe against the kings of South America.
Spain qualified after lifting the EURO 2024 title, while Argentina secured their place as Copa América 2024 champions.
Beyond the battle for continental supremacy, the match carries a powerful emotional narrative. Spain’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal will come face to face with his childhood idol, Lionel Messi, in what promises to be one of the most symbolic moments in modern football.
An iconic photograph connects the two generations. According to renowned photographer Joan Monfort, the image was taken after Yamal’s family won a UNICEF raffle in their neighbourhood of Roca Fonda, Mataró, granting them a photo session with a Barcelona player at Camp Nou — which happened to be Messi.
“Messi didn’t even know how to hold him at first,” Monfort recalled. “He’s quite introverted. He walked into a locker room and suddenly found himself with a baby in a plastic tub of water. It was quite complicated,” he added with a laugh.
“For Lamine to grow up to become a footballer and for that photo to exist — it’s magic. I’m just really happy it happened,” Monfort concluded.
With global stars, historic rivalry, and a generational storyline, La Finalissima 2026 in Doha is shaping up to be one of the most memorable international fixtures in recent history.
By Noble Atsu
