The economic earthquake that the Middle East situation could create for soccer
The armed conflict that has erupted in the region has led the Qatari government to suspend all sporting activities in the country. The Finalissima is on March 27 in Doha.
The Finalissima, a tournament organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL, is close to losing its venue less than a month before the scheduled match between Spain and Argentina. The armed conflict that has erupted in the region has led the Qatari government to suspend all sporting activity in the country. However, the matches Spain were due to play against Argentina and Egypt on 27 and 30 March at the Lusail Stadium have not yet been definitively cancelled. For now, only domestic competitions in Qatar have been suspended.
The Spanish Football Federation has not received any official notification. Although it is already working on possible solutions and exploring alternative venues, there is still some hope that the situation could be resolved quickly, even if that currently appears unlikely.
An added complication is the financial issue. Qatar was responsible for organising the matches and for paying a significant fee to both teams, covering the Finalissima as well as the friendly against Egypt.
Contracts of this nature usually include insurance policies and detailed clauses. The Federation’s leadership is reviewing all documentation to ensure that, if the match is cancelled, the financial impact on Spanish football is kept to a minimum, given the millions that were due to be received for playing in Qatar.
Throughout the weekend, the Federation has remained in constant contact with all the organisations involved in the Finalissima. A clearer picture is expected tomorrow, when it should be known whether the match will go ahead or whether an alternative venue has been secured in the event that the postponement in Qatar is confirmed. The sporting dimension is important, but the financial implications are even greater.
@asusaofficial The 2026 Finalissima is due to be played at Doha’s Lusail Stadium next month 🇶🇦 But with unrest in the Middle East and bombs hitting Qatar, are Spain and Argentina really going to make the trip? #finalissima #soccernews #sportsnews #iran
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