Spain replaces the Argentina match with a European match…and reveals the fate of the Egypt match

European champion Spain will play an international match against Serbia on March 27, replacing the “Vinalisima” confrontation against Copa America champion Argentina, which was scheduled in Qatar before it was canceled due to the situation in the Middle East.
The match will be held at Villarreal’s “La Ceramica” stadium during the next international window (March 23 to 31), according to what the Spanish Football Federation announced.
The “Vinalisima” match between the European and South American champions was canceled after failing to reach an agreement on the alternative venue for its holding.
The European Football Association (UEFA) announced on Sunday the cancellation of the match due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, explaining that “it was not possible to reach an agreement with Argentina on an alternative date,” while the local organizing committee announced the cancellation of the six friendly matches that were scheduled in Doha between the 26th and 31st of next month.
UEFA indicated that it proposed two solutions, the first for the “Finalisima” match to be held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, and the second for the confrontation to be held according to the home-and-away rule, the first in Madrid on March 27 and the second in Buenos Aires at a later time before the 2028 European Cup and Copa America, but his proposal was not accepted either.
Likewise, UEFA proposed holding one match at a neutral stadium in Europe on March 27 or 30, but the Argentine Federation said that it was no longer able to play on the previously specified date and that it could only play on the 31st of the same month.
UEFA added: “Accordingly, and unfortunately for UEFA, the current edition of the Vinalisima match has been cancelled.”
The “Finalisima” match was scheduled to be held at Losail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 World Cup final, when Argentina won the title at the expense of France.
In turn, the local organizing committee announced in a statement that it had taken the decision to cancel the Qatar Football Festival “in light of the continuing airspace disturbances and travel restrictions that continue to affect the ability of many fans, players and officials to move around.”
As a result, the second match that was scheduled for Spain in Qatar against Egypt was cancelled, leaving the European champions without a second friendly match in this international window of preparation for the 2026 World Cup.