BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - The Davis Cup final between Argentina and Spain will be played at the Islas Malvinas indoor stadium in Mar del Plata, the International Tennis Federation ruled Friday.

Argentina had proposed holding the Nov. 21-23 event in Cordoba at the indoor Orfeo Stadium.

"This was one of the most challenging decisions we have made during my more than a decade-long tenure on the Davis Cup Committee," said Juan Margets, chairman of the ITF panel.

The matches will be played on an indoor carpet surface.

The committee had to balance wishes of the Argentine players with the complicated logistics of both venues. Neither meets the ITF's requirement of 12,000 seats.

Margets said it was more feasible to increase the seating in Mar del Plata's venue, although he didn't provide details.

ITF representatives inspected both sites last week.

"There were many factors to consider," Margets said in a statement. 'In the end, the committee unanimously felt that Mar del Plata was the most appropriate venue for the 2008 final."

Mar del Plata is popular beach-side resort 400 kilometres southeast of Buenos Aires.

The Argentine Tennis Association proposed both stadiums last month, ruling out its regular Davis Cup venue, the 14,000-seat, outdoor clay Parque Roca Stadium in Buenos Aires, because of the risk of late spring rain, and the superior mastery of clay by Spain, led by top-ranked Rafael Nadal.

The AAT decided to play on a fast indoor court to play to the strengths of leading players David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro.

Argentina beat Russia in the Davis Cup semifinals last month, putting the team into its third Davis Cup final and first at home.