Italy, Argentina to meet in ‘Finalissima’ Wembley showdown on June 1

Newswire

Wembley will host the revived ‘Finalissima’ match between UEFA EURO 2020 winners Italy and CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 champions Argentina on 1 June. European football’s governing body Uefa and South American counterparts Conmebol agreed last year to play three editions of the intercontinental match.

Twenty-nine years after its last edition, the relaunch of this legendary footballing encounter is the result of the long-standing partnership between UEFA and CONMEBOL. In December last year, it was also confirmed that Brazil and Argentina will compete in the UEFA Nations League after South America’s governing body CONMEBOL reached an agreement with its European counterpart over joining the biennial competition.

UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek said that CONMEBOL would join the Nations League from 2024. It will be the first time the fixture has been played since 1993. Italy will return to the stadium where they beat England to win the European title last year, while Argentina won the latest South American trophy after defeating Brazil in the final in Rio in June 2021.