The 2025 Liga Profesional Torneo Apertura finalists are set, as Platense will face off against Huracán to decide Argentina’s next football champions. 

The game will be played on Sunday, June 1 at 5 p.m. at the Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero.

Platense aims for first-ever national title

It will be quite the occasion for El Calamar fans, as the team from Vicente López in north Buenos Aires metro area are looking to win their first ever title. The club is a staple of the Buenos Aires footballing culture, with its strong links to horse racing and tango singers.

It’s been quite the ride for Platense so far. Coached by the duo of Sergio Gómez and Favio Orsi, the team turned around a shaky start to the tournament with four wins in six games in March, securing a spot in the knockout stage after finishing in sixth place in Group B.

After that, it was nothing short of epic for Platense. As one of the unseeded teams, they had to play away from home in every matchup while visiting some of Argentine football’s most historic venues.

First, they pushed 1-0 past 2024 Copa Sudamericana winners Racing Club at the Presidente Juan Domingo Perón stadium. Then, a controversial call nearly lost them what had been a relatively solid match against River Plate at the Monumental, securing their spot in the semis via a penalty shootout victory. There, they kept their cool after an impressive welcome by San Lorenzo fans at the Pedro Bidegain stadium, outplaying the Cuervos for another 1-0 win and a place in the final.

“This club and these players are resilient,” said Gómez after the semi-final game. “We try to do good, and transform what’s bad. We aim to leave in the heart of the Platense fans the memory of a team that works themselves to death, they are incredible.”

An exorcism of bad memories for Huracán

It’s not a very different story across the pitch, as Huracán is another who has spent a long time awaiting a taste of glory. Often vaunted as Argentine football’s sixth most important team, the Globo hasn’t enjoyed First Division success since 1973, a 2014 Copa Argentina their only piece of silverware after the 20th century.

The years since haven’t been without heartbreak. In 2009, Huracán inspired all of Argentine football with a team full of attacking flair, but ultimately collapsed in the last matchday, missing out on the title by just two points against Velez Sarsfield . It was a similar tale in 2024, where the Globo once again folded against eventual champions El Fortín in a game they needed to win to have a chance of taking home the trophy.

At the helm of this squad is one Frank Darío Kudelka. He was born in Freyre, a seven thousand people town in northeast Córdoba. Without ever having a superstar name within the sport or even a strong career as a player, he had to work his path as a coach the hard way. He became a journeyman, achieving promotions with several clubs in the Argentine lower leagues before establishing himself as a top tier coach.

On his now third stint as Huracán head coach, Kudelka seems determined to show fame and money isn’t the be-all and end-all in football, after working to rebuild a club rooted in deep economic hardship.

“You often hear ‘these are the candidates.’ Why? Because they’re the ones that spend the most,” he said, after his team beat Independiente on penalties to reach the final. “On paper, it may be, but then you have to prove it with work. I think Huracán reaching the final is a reason for pride for clubs that have less economic power, but more brain power.”

Where can I get tickets to the 2025 Torneo Apertura final?

Tickets for the final will be sold through platform Deportick, although prices are yet to be confirmed. An exclusive pre-sale for Naranja X card customers will begin on Monday, May 26 at 4 p.m. 

On Tuesday 27 at 4 p.m., tickets will go on sale for club members of both finalists. Any remaining tickets will be sold for non-members after that, at a date yet to be confirmed.

The Madre de Ciudades stadium can host up to 30,000 fans, so tickets are expected to be in high demand.

Where can I watch the 2025 Torneo Apertura final?

In order to watch the match at home, you’ll need a cable TV subscription and the additional Pack Fútbol — which grants access to premium channels ESPN Premium and TNT Sports.Several bars in Buenos Aires Metropolitan Areas will be showing the final, so be sure to check our “Where to watch football matches in Buenos Aires” guide to find the best spot for you.