Wembley to host Italy-Argentina Intercontinental clash

Last updated Dec 16, 2021

One again, the Holy Grail of Football Wembley stadium will play host to an Inter-Continental clash between European Champions Italy and South American champions Argentina.

The match will take place June 10.

Wembley is understood to be the preferred venue for the match known as the ‘Finalissima’ but UEFA has not yet confirmed that.

The champions of each continent’s premier club competition have met annually since 1960, before the match merged with the Fifa Club World Cup in 2005.

The ‘Finalissima’ is the latest step in closer co-operation between Uefa and Conmebol, with the agreement coming soon after the two confederations opposed Fifa’s proposals to reform the international calendar, which include holding the World Cup every two years.

This new deal now extends to 2028, and covers two further editions of the showpiece match in addition to the game next year.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously spoken about his ambition to present a consensus position to the associations at that meeting.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who has previously said European countries would boycott the World Cup if the plans were approved, is set to face the media after a meeting of his organisation’s executive committee on Thursday.

Italy will be happy to return to Wembley next year after their dramatic penalty shootout win over England in the Euro 2020 final last summer.

Argentina, meanwhile, got their hands on the Copa America by edging out a 1-0 victory against arch-rivals Brazil in the Rio de Janeiro showpiece.

Mazino Dickson/BBC