Argentina and Spain have Donald Trump to blame for canceling would-be World Cup final test
Argentina and Spain have Donald Trump to blame for canceling would-be World Cup final test
Rory RobinsonThu, July 16, 2026 at 4:02 AM UTC
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Donald Trump caused the cancellation of Spain and Argentina's 2026 Finalissima matchup in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup -Credit:Getty
Fans everywhere will finally see Argentina and Spain compete in an international match after their earlier game in Qatar was canceled.
The two World Cup finalists were supposed to face off in the 2026 Finalissima at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on March 27, with Spain representing UEFA as the Euro 2024 champions against CONMEBOL's Argentina, the 2024 Copa America victors. It would have been a valuable test for both teams, coming just months before they are set to battle for soccer's most prestigious trophy at New York/New Jersey stadium this Sunday.
But the match was scrapped when Donald Trump's war with Iran fueled geopolitical instability, airspace disruptions, and travel restrictions across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, England's Harry Kane addressed rumors about retiring from the World Cup after losing to Lionel Messi and Argentina.
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The cancellation ended the Qatar Football Festival and made the Local Organizing Committee, UEFA, and CONMEBOL call off the event. UEFA first suggested moving the match to Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid with an equal number of fans from each side.
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They also thought about holding two games, one in Madrid and one in Buenos Aires, before 2028, but the Argentine Football Association rejected both ideas.
Argentina suggested playing the match after the 2026 World Cup, but Spain’s federation couldn’t fit it into their schedule. Since they couldn’t agree on dates, venues, or a neutral site, the 2026 Finalissima was canceled.
President Donald Trump's war with Iran forced the 2026 Finalissima cancellation -Credit:Getty
"After much discussion between UEFA and the organizing authorities in Qatar, it is announced today that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima between UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain and CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 champions Argentina cannot be played as hoped in Qatar on 27 March," read UEFA's official statement.
The president never spoke publicly about his part in the match being canceled. Instead, Trump’s administration kept up pressure on Iran during the World Cup.
Trump made Iran hold its pre-tournament training camp in Mexico instead of Arizona, and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he danced after Iran was eliminated in the group stage.
Spain and Argentina last faced each other in a World Cup back in 1966 -Credit:Getty
Spain and Argentina last played in 2018, when Spain won 6-1 in Madrid. Isco scored three times, and Diego Costa, Thiago, and Iago Aspas also scored. Nicolas Otamendi scored Argentina’s only goal.
Since then, Spain’s older players have retired, while Argentina has built its team around Messi’s last years. Players such as Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, David Silva, Sergio Busquets, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, and Angel Di Maria are now international icons.
Spain and Argentina are tied 6-6 in their head-to-head record. Their only other World Cup match was in 1966, when Argentina won 2-1 with two goals from Luis Artime.
Source: “AOL Sports”
