Spain schedules Egypt friendly after Finalissima cancellation

Aftermath of the cancellation of the Finalissima between Euros winners Spain and Argentina, the Euro 2024 winners will now face Egypt in an international friendly later this month.

The match will take place on March 31 and was quickly arranged to ensure Spain maintain a competitive schedule during the international break ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The fixture was organised following the cancellation of the Finalissima between the Spain national football team and the Argentina national football team, which had been scheduled for March 27 in Qatar. 

The game was called off after the governing body UEFA confirmed that the political situation in the region made it impossible to host the event.

According to reports, the Royal Spanish Football Federation moved quickly to find alternative opposition and reached an agreement with the Egyptian national football team. 

Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, approved the proposal, allowing the Pharaohs to travel to Spain for the friendly encounter.

The match is expected to feature two of world football’s biggest stars, with Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal likely to face Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. 

The friendly will give both sides a valuable opportunity to test their squads against strong opposition before the World Cup begins.

Spain have also confirmed another friendly during the same international window. 

Serbia national football team will play Spain on March 27 at Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal after their own scheduled tournament in Qatar was cancelled.

Both Spain and Egypt will use the matches as final preparations for the 2026 World Cup in North America. 

Spain have been drawn in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, while Egypt will begin their campaign in Group G against Belgium and New Zealand as they look to make a strong impact at the tournament.

The FIFA World Cup will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico from June to July this summer.