Benfica’s stadium was close to welcoming Lionel Messi, but in the end... | OneFootball

The hosting of the Finalissima 2026, the match between Spain and Argentina, featuring Lionel Messi, continues to generate speculation about the venue. Originally scheduled for the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on March 27, the match may undergo changes due to security issues in the Middle East region.

Among the options considered, the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon emerged as a possible alternative to host the clash between the champions of UEFA Euro 2024 and Copa América 2024. The idea of bringing the Finalissima to Lisbon gained attention due to the stadium's capacity, but ultimately lost momentum in favor of more viable proposals.

The Spanish newspaper 'AS' reports that the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid has become the main option if the game can no longer be held in Qatar. The Spanish federation has offered the historic stadium to ensure the match takes place safely.

Despite strong indications that the Bernabéu will be the final venue, no official announcement has been made yet. The federations involved, namely UEFA, CONMEBOL, and Qatari authorities, continue to analyze all the alternatives on the table.

With less than three weeks until the scheduled date for the decisive match, uncertainty remains about the location, but everything indicates that, although the Estádio da Luz was considered, Madrid now seems to have the advantage to host the event.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.