Finalissima: What is it, who are the holders, and when will it take place?

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The Finalissima is a football match played between the latest winners of the Copa America and the European Championship, organised by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) and Uefa.

The upcoming men’s Finalissima, due to take place in 2026, will pit South American champions Argentina against European champions Spain.

Argentina will be looking to defend their Finalissima title, having defeated Euro 2020 winners Italy 3-0 at Wembley in 2022.

England are the inaugural Women’s Finalissima cup holders, beating Brazil 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in June 2023.

When did the Finalissima begin?

Lionel Messi holds the Finalissima trophy surrounded by Argentina team-matesImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Argentina will be looking to secure back-to-back Finalissima wins following their 2022 victory

Previously called the European/South American Nations Cup, only two matches were played – in 1985 and 1993 – before the contest was discontinued until 2022.

Euro 1984 winners France defeated 1983 Copa America winners Uruguay 2-0 in 1985.

There was no match between Euro 1988 winners the Netherlands and 1987 Copa America champions Uruguay, as a date for the match could not be agreed.

The contest returned when Copa America champions Argentina defeated Euro 1992 winners Denmark 5-4 on penalties – but the competition was then sidelined.

It relaunched in 2022 as the Finalissima, with the first Women’s Finalissima being played the following year.

When is the next Finalissima?

There is not currently a date set for the next men’s Finalissima, but Conmebol has listed the event on its website as taking place in March 2026.

A statement from May 2025 says that a meeting between Conmebol and Uefa had covered “key issues such as institutional objectives, organisational responsibilities, logistical planning, competition schedules for both teams and tentative dates for the match” and that the date “will be announced in due course”.

Conmebol has also listed the next Women’s Finalissima between England and Brazil as taking place in ‘March or October 2026’.

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