José Manuel López scored for Palmeiras in their Paulista final win against Novorizontino.
López made it six goals in 10 Paulsita matches, scoring in their first leg 1-0 win. With the score at 0-0, the Argentine received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and his effort beat the goalkeeper to give Palmeiras the 1-0 lead.
Agustín Giay was an unused substitute for Palmeiras.
Per reports, CONMEBOL and UEFA directives will hold a key meeting this Thursday to discuss the date and location of the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain. Miami had emerged as one of the possible locations, but that option has already been ruled out. The Hard Rock Stadium will be hosting the Miami Open (tennis tournament) during that period, making it unavailable for the Finalissima.
The Finalissima was originally scheduled to take place on March 27 at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. However, the situation is now under review due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has raised concerns about security in the region.
Football activity in Qatar has already been suspended. The Qatar Football Association announced the immediate halt of all domestic competitions and explained that new dates will only be confirmed once safety conditions are fully guaranteed.
Because of this situation, CONMEBOL and UEFA are evaluating alternative options for both the date and the venue of the match.
Joaquín Panichelli scored as RC Strasbourg defeated Reims 2-1 at the Stade de la Meinau and advanced to the semifinals of the Coupe de France.
The Argentine forward opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give Strasbourg a 1-0 lead. With the win, Strasbourg moves on to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the match between Lyon and Lens.
Panichelli, who previously played for River Plate’s reserve team, is enjoying one of the best moments of his career. The Argentine striker continues to produce strong numbers this season, raising hopes that he could enter the conversation for a future call-up to the Argentina national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The forward has scored 17 goals and provided four assists in 33 appearances in all competitions this season. In Ligue 1, he has already scored 14 goals and currently shares the top scorer spot in the league with Mason Greenwood of Marseille.
Another Argentine also started the match for Strasbourg, former Boca Juniors defender Valentín Barco. Both Barco and Panichelli were substituted late in the game as Strasbourg secured the result. Fellow Argentine Aarón Anselmino was unavailable due to injury.
The Finalissima between Argentina and Spain has not been suspended, but growing tension in the Middle East has put the original venue in doubt. The match was scheduled to take place on March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. However, recent military conflict in the region has led organizers to consider changing the host city.
Qatar was targeted by Iranian missiles after being identified as a strategic ally of the United States. Although the missiles were intercepted and did not directly impact the population, debris caused explosions. Following the attacks, the Qatari government closed its airspace and advised residents to remain at home.
While the Finalissima has not been officially canceled, local authorities suspended sporting events in the country. In a statement, the Qatar Football Association announced the postponement of all tournaments and matches “with immediate effect and until further notice,” adding that new dates would be communicated through official channels. The statement did not specifically mention the Finalissima, but it increased uncertainty about whether the match can be held there.
Despite the situation, the plan is still to keep the Finalissima during the March FIFA window. Argentina and Spain, champions of the latest Copa América and European Championship respectively, are expected to face each other on the same date, but possibly in a different location.
Per reports by Diario Olé, two cities are currently being analyzed as alternatives: Miami and London.
Miami is a strong option due to its infrastructure and economic capacity. The city will host seven matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and already has experience organizing major international events. It would also provide strong commercial appeal and large attendance potential.
London is another possibility, mainly for historical reasons. The 2022 edition of the Finalissima was played there, when Argentina defeated Italy at Wembley Stadium under Lionel Scaloni. That precedent makes the English capital a natural candidate if a European venue is preferred.
For now, no final decision has been announced. The objective remains clear: to keep the Finalissima on the March 27 date, even if it means moving it away from Qatar.
Álvaro de Miguel, the General Secretary of the RFEF has given an update on the Finalissima match against Argentina.
The Finalissima is set to be played on March 27 in Qatar but with the recent attacks in the region, the Qatar FA has suspended all championships, competitions and matches. The Finalissima could also be suspended. Speaking with Tiempo de Juego, here is what Álvaro de Miguel had to say:
“It is premature to make an assessment but this week will be decisive to know what will be done with this match.”
