From London to New Jersey: The five "Plan B" stadiums if Qatar Finalissima fails | OneFootball

Will the Finalissima stay in the Gulf?

From London to New Jersey: The five "Plan B" stadiums if Qatar Finalissima fails

Qatar could still host the Finalissima between Argentina & Spain after regional tensions eased and air traffic resumed.

Uncertainty around the Finalissima venue

The future of the Finalissima 2026 match between Argentina and Spain has been uncertain in recent days due to rising tensions in the Gulf region.

The match brings together the champions of Copa América and Euro 2024 and is planned for 27 March 2026.

Qatar had temporarily suspended sports activities after Iranian strikes targeted U.S. military bases across the Gulf including facilities located in the country.

The attacks followed earlier military action involving the US and Israel against Iran raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.

Because of the situation, the organization of the Finalissima in Qatar became unclear, with UEFA & CONMEBOL monitoring the security developments closely.

Positive signals from Qatar

According to the Spanish newspaper AS, Qatar is now close to maintaining its role as host after Iran reportedly decided to pause its attacks on U.S. bases in Gulf countries.

The move reduced immediate security concerns and created optimism about the situation stabilizing.

Early signs of improvement have already appeared. The Qatari airspace reopened early Saturday morning for some flights and one aircraft departed from Doha to Madrid becoming the first plane to leave since the conflict began.

Authorities are also expected to gradually reopen commercial air traffic in the coming hours, similar to steps already taken in other Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates & Saudi Arabia.

Football activities set to resume

Another positive factor for the Finalissima is the expected return of football activities in Qatar starting next Thursday. Several international matches scheduled in the country could go ahead if the situation remains stable.

Among the planned fixtures is a friendly between Spain & Egypt which was scheduled to take place in Qatar on 30 March along with other matches involving the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Serbia.

These developments suggest that Qatar may still be able to host the highly anticipated clash between Lionel Messi’s Argentina & Spain which could also mark first professional meeting between Messi and rising Spanish star Lamine Yamal.

Alternative stadiums under consideration

Despite the improving situation, organizers have also studied alternative venues in case the match cannot be played in Qatar. Possible options include major stadiums in London, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona and New Jersey.

Facilities such as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Stadio Olimpico, Santiago Bernabéu, Spotify Camp Nou and MetLife Stadium have been mentioned as potential hosts if change becomes necessary.