UEFA and Copa America champions to meet in a friendly in 2022

Argentina and Italy will face each other in a friendly in 2022, dedicated to the memories of Diego Maradona. (Photo credit: Reuters)

European champions Italy and winners of the 2021 Copa America championship Argentina will go head to head in a game to honor the late football icon Diego Maradona, a statement from the FA of the two nations reads.

As at the time of filing this report, no name or venue has been given to the proposed game but a bird whispered a working title “finalissima” was agreed on for the time being.

Italy beat England to win the Euros in the summer on penalties while Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in a game that means more to many than the eventual score line with a certain Lionel Messi finally landing a trophy on the international front.

"The agreement reached by the two organisations currently covers three editions of this match between the respective continental winners," UEFA said in a statement.

UEFA President Aleksandr Ceferin is coy on the idea considering the bi-annual World Cup proposal by Arsene Wenger and Co, stating that everything is under consideration but UEFA nations might pull out from the idea of staging the mundial every two years.

"The organising of this match is part of the expansion of the cooperation between UEFA and CONMEBOL, which notably includes women's football, futsal and youth categories, the exchange of referees, as well as technical training schemes," UEFA said.