Finalissima

For the women's competition, see Women's Finalissima. For futsal competition, see Futsal Finalissima.

Finalissima

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, the Finalissima trophy
Organising bodies	CONMEBOL UEFA
Founded	1985; 40 years ago (1985) 2022; 3 years ago (2022) (Re-established)
Region	South America Europe
Number of teams	2
Related competitions	FIFA Confederations Cup
Current champions	Argentina (2nd title)
Most successful team(s)	Argentina (2 titles)
Website	uefa.com/finalissima
2026 Finalissima

The Finalissima,^[1] formerly known as European/South American Nations Cup^[2] and also called Artemio Franchi Cup,^[a] is an intercontinental football match organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA and contested by the winners of the Copa América and UEFA European Championship. 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.^[5] 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.^[6] The competition was to be held every four years, with the venue alternating between Europe and South America.^[3] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^[9][10][11] The competition featured title holders of the continental championships and FIFA World Cup.^[12] After the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA announced in March 2019 that the tournament would be abolished.^[13]

Relaunch as "Finalissima"

Pre match at the 2022 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.^[14] 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.^[15] 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.^[1]

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.^[16] Argentina won the match 3–0 for their second title.^[17]

2026

Following the 2022 Finalissima, the next game was originally expected to take place in 2025. However, extensive conflicts with other events meant the event was rescheduled for March 2026. It will be contested between UEFA Euro 2024 winners Spain and 2024 Copa América winners Argentina, with the latter in their third consecutive appearance.^[18]

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.^[19]

Results

List of Finalissima matches

Year	Winners	Score	Runners-up	Venue	Location	Attendance
1985	France	2–0	Uruguay	Parc des Princes	Paris, France	20,405
1993	Argentina	1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)	Denmark	Estadio José María Minella	Mar del Plata, Argentina	34,683
2022	Argentina	3–0	Italy	Wembley Stadium	London, England	87,112
2026 TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

Results by nation

Results by nation

Team	Winners	Runners-up
Argentina	2 (1993, 2022)	—
France	1 (1985)	—
Uruguay	—	1 (1985)
Denmark	—	1 (1993)
Italy	—	1 (2022)

Results by confederation

Results by confederation

Confederation	Winners	Runners-up
CONMEBOL	2	1
UEFA	1	2

See also

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

Notes

1. The competition in 1985 and 1993 was referred to as the Artemio Franchi Cup by UEFA in contemporary publications,^[3] although it is also sometimes referred to as the Artemio Franchi Trophy.^[4]

References

1. "Finalissima 2022, Italy vs Argentina: Brand identity revealed". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022. The CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions is the new name of the trophy that was the prize for this match in 1985 and 1993.
2. "Worldwide football network". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
3. "France win new Artemio Franchi Cup". Bulletin officiel de l'UEFA. No. 112. Union of European Football Associations. September 1985. p. 20. Together with the South American Confederation (CONMEBOL), a new competition has been introduced which is to be held every four years between the reigning national team champions of the two continents... In future, the venue will alternate between Europe and South America.
4. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
5. A troubled tournament looks forward by Jon Carter on ESPN, 5 June 2009 (archived)
6. "Finalissima 2022, Italy vs Argentina: All you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022. This will be the third time the EURO holders have met their South American counterparts in a match organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL.
7. "Argentina win Artemio Franchi Cup". Bulletin officiel de l'UEFA. No. 142. Union of European Football Associations. March 1993. p. 27. France were the inaugural winners in 1985; the winners of EURO 88, the Netherlands, and the South American championship winners, Uruguay, were unable to agree on a date for a match four years later.
8. Vieli, André (2014). "UEFA: 60 years at the heart of football" (PDF). UEFA.com. Nyon: Union of European Football Associations. p. 169. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
9. Aikman, Richard (30 July 2008). "Artemio Franchi honoured in Florence". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
10. "The story of the Confeds". FIFA. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
11. Hace 20 años, Maradona ganaba su último título con la Selección on Infobae, 24 February 2013
12. Carter, Jon (5 June 2009). "A troubled tournament looks forward". ESPN. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
13. "FIFA Council votes for the introduction of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
14. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
15. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew and extend Memorandum of Understanding". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
16. "European and South American champions meet in 'Finalissima' Wembley showdown". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
17. "Italy 3–0 Argentina: South American champions cruise to Finalissima glory". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
18. "The Spain-Argentina Finalissima runs out of dates on the calendar". fcbarcelonanoticias. 10 September 2024.
19. "Women's EURO winners England to face South American Champions Brazil in first-ever Women's Finalissima". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.

External links

• Official website
• Finalissima 2022 at CONMEBOL
• Artemio Franchi Cup at RSSSF