Finalissima

The Finalissima, formerly known as European/South American Nations Cup and also called Artemio Franchi Cup, is an intercontinental football match organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA and contested by the winners of the Copa América and Euros. Organised as an occasional one-off match, it is a national team equivalent to the defunct Intercontinental Cup between the club champions of Europe and South America. The competition was held twice, in 1985 and 1993, before being discontinued. It was relaunched in 2022, after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between CONMEBOL and UEFA.

History

First editions and abolition

Created in 1985 as the European/South American Nations Cup, it was also referred to as the "Artemio Franchi Cup" due to the competition's trophy, named after Artemio Franchi, former president of UEFA who died in a road accident in 1983. It was organised jointly between CONMEBOL and the European confederation, acting as an intercontinental super cup. The competition was the national team-equivalent to the Intercontinental Cup on the club level, played between the winners of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores. The competition was to be held every four years, with the venue alternating between Europe and South America. It was first played in 1985, between the winners of UEFA Euro 1984, France, and the winners of the 1983 Copa América, Uruguay. France hosted the match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, and won 2–0. The competition did not take place four years later, as the Netherlands (UEFA Euro 1988 winners) and Uruguay (1987 Copa América winners) were unable to agree on a date for the match. The next edition took place in 1993 between the winners of the 1991 Copa América, Argentina, and the winners of UEFA Euro 1992, Denmark. Argentina hosted the match at the Estadio José María Minella in Mar del Plata, and won 5–4 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time. The competition was discontinued thereafter.

Although the competition was discontinued after 1993, matches between the reigning champions of Europe and South America occasionally occurred outside the framework of the tournament. For example, in 20 december 1989, the winners of UEFA Euro 1988, the Netherlands, faced the 1989 Copa América champions, Brazil, in an international friendly played in De Kuip, Rotterdam, this game was won for Brazil 1-0. Other example took place in 25 March 1998, when UEFA Euro 1996 winners Germany hosted 1997 Copa América champions Brazil in an international friendly in Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart. Brazil won the match 2–1, ending Germany's 22-match unbeaten run.

The Artemio Franchi Cup can be considered a precursor of the King Fahd Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup, played in 1992 for the first time and organised by FIFA from its third edition in 1997. The competition featured title holders of the continental championships and FIFA World Cup. After the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA announced in March 2019 that the tournament would be abolished.

Relaunch as "Finalissima"

On 12 February 2020, UEFA and CONMEBOL signed a renewed memorandum of understanding meant to enhance cooperation between the two organisations. As part of the agreement, a joint UEFA–CONMEBOL committee examined the possibility of staging European–South American intercontinental matches, for both men's and women's football and across various age groups. On 28 September 2021, UEFA and CONMEBOL confirmed that the UEFA European Championship and Copa América winners would face each other in an intercontinental match, with the agreement initially covering three editions starting in 2022. On 15 December 2021, UEFA and CONMEBOL again signed a renewed memorandum of understanding lasting until 2028, which included specific provisions on opening a joint office in London and the potential organisation of various football events. On 22 March 2022, UEFA announced that the "CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions" would be the new name of the trophy for the Artemio Franchi Cup.

2022

The 2022 Finalissima took place between the winners of UEFA Euro 2020 (held in 2021), Italy, and the winners of the 2021 Copa América, Argentina, at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Argentina won the match 3–0 for their second title.

2026

Following the 2022 Finalissima, the next game was originally expected to take place in 2025. However, extensive conflicts with other events led to a postponement. It will be contested between UEFA Euro 2024 winners Spain and 2024 Copa América winners Argentina, with the latter in their third consecutive appearance. On 16 May 2025, both confederations confirmed. Then later in December of the same year it was confirmed that the match would be held at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the 2026 edition was cancelled as both federations were not able to agree where else to play the match.

Results

Results by nation

Results by confederation

Women's Finalissima

A women's equivalent, the Women's Finalissima between the winners of the UEFA Women's Championship and the Copa América Femenina, was also launched. Its first edition was played in 2023 at Wembley between UEFA Women's Euro 2022 winners England and 2022 Copa América Femenina winners Brazil.

See also

• FIFA Confederations Cup
• AFC–OFC Challenge Cup
• Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
• Panamerican Championship
• UEFA–CONMEBOL MoU Finalissima Women's Finalissima Futsal Finalissima UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge Under-20 Intercontinental Cup

Notes

External links

• at CONMEBOL
• at RSSSF