Overview
- The one-off match set for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha was scrapped after the Middle East conflict rendered Qatar an unsuitable host.
- UEFA says the AFA rejected proposals to play at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu on the original date, a two-legged format with a return in Buenos Aires, or a neutral European venue on March 27 or 30.
- Argentina countered with plans to play after the World Cup or exclusively on March 31, options UEFA said were unworkable for Spain within the tight pre-World Cup window.
- Spain's federation said it was ready to host and is replacing the fixture with friendlies, including Serbia on March 27 in Villarreal, with a match against Egypt on March 31 expected in Spain.
- Reports claiming Lionel Messi blocked the move were disputed, with Reuters citing ESPN sources saying he had no role, and broader regional tensions have also led Formula 1 to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races.