diff --git a/ai/tasks/done/TASK-196-fix-ranking-snapshot-cli-json-serialization.md b/ai/tasks/done/TASK-196-fix-ranking-snapshot-cli-json-serialization.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..056277e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ai/tasks/done/TASK-196-fix-ranking-snapshot-cli-json-serialization.md
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+---
+id: TASK-196-fix-ranking-snapshot-cli-json-serialization
+title: Fix ranking snapshot CLI JSON serialization
+status: done
+type: backend
+team: Backend Senior
+supporting_teams:
+  - Arquitecto Python
+roadmap_item: foundation
+priority: high
+---
+
+# TASK-196 - Fix ranking snapshot CLI JSON serialization
+
+## Goal
+
+Correct the `generate-ranking-snapshot` CLI output path so it can print the generated payload as JSON without failing on `datetime` or `date` values.
+
+## Context
+
+The weekly ranking snapshot command already generates and persists snapshots correctly in PostgreSQL. Production validation confirmed `ranking_snapshots.snapshot_status=ready`, `item_count=20`, `source_matches_count=41`, and `/api/ranking?timeframe=weekly&metric=kills&limit=20` returns `snapshot_status=ready` with `fallback_used=false`.
+
+The remaining bug is only in the CLI print path inside `backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py`, where `_main()` currently calls `json.dumps({"status": "ok", "data": payload}, ensure_ascii=True, indent=2)` and can still receive native `datetime` values inside `payload`.
+
+Preserve the current product identity: Spanish-speaking HLL Vietnam community, military/Vietnam/tactical/sober visual direction and controlled repository evolution.
+
+## Steps
+
+1. Read the listed files first.
+2. Apply only the scoped JSON serialization fix for the CLI output path.
+3. Reuse an existing serialization pattern if a safe local helper already exists.
+4. Validate scripts, local serialization behavior and CLI output behavior when possible.
+5. Document root cause, applied change and validation results.
+
+## Files to Read First
+
+- `AGENTS.md`
+- `ai/repo-context.md`
+- `ai/architecture-index.md`
+- `backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py`
+- `backend/app/main.py`
+- `scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1`
+
+## Expected Files to Modify
+
+- `backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py`
+- `scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1`
+- `ai/tasks/done/TASK-196-fix-ranking-snapshot-cli-json-serialization.md`
+
+## Constraints
+
+- Keep the change minimal.
+- Fix only the CLI JSON serialization path.
+- Do not change snapshot generation logic.
+- Do not change `/api/ranking`.
+- Do not touch frontend, assets or design.
+- Do not reactivate Elo/MMR.
+- Do not reintroduce Comunidad Hispana #03.
+- Do not change annual behavior except reusing a generic serializer pattern if it already exists.
+
+## Validation
+
+Before completing the task ensure:
+
+- `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1`
+- `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/run-integration-tests.ps1`
+- local import validation proves the payload from `generate_ranking_snapshot(...)` can be serialized with `json.dumps`
+- if the environment allows it, execute the CLI and confirm it prints JSON without `TypeError`
+- `git diff --name-only` matches the expected scope
+
+## Outcome
+
+Document:
+
+- Root cause:
+  - `generate_ranking_snapshot(...)` already generated and persisted the snapshot correctly.
+  - the CLI failure happened afterwards in `_main()`, when `json.dumps({"status": "ok", "data": payload}, ensure_ascii=True, indent=2)` received native `datetime` / `date` objects inside `payload`.
+  - the bug only affected CLI JSON printing and did not affect PostgreSQL snapshot persistence or `/api/ranking`.
+
+- Applied change:
+  - `backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py`
+    - added a local controlled `_json_default(...)` serializer for `datetime` and `date`
+    - serializes `datetime` through the module's existing `_to_iso(...)` helper
+    - serializes `date` with `isoformat()`
+    - updated the CLI `json.dumps(...)` call to use `default=_json_default`
+  - `scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1`
+    - extended the CLI regression to return a payload containing both `datetime` and `date`
+    - verifies `_main(...)` exits successfully
+    - verifies stdout JSON contains ISO strings instead of failing with `TypeError`
+
+- Validation executed:
+  - `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1`
+  - `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/run-integration-tests.ps1`
+  - local import validation with `json.dumps(..., default=app.rcon_historical_leaderboards._json_default)`
+  - local `_main(...)` validation with a monkeypatched `generate_ranking_snapshot(...)` payload containing `datetime` and `date`
+  - local CLI execution:
+    - `python -m app.rcon_historical_leaderboards generate-ranking-snapshot --timeframe weekly --server-key all --metric kills --limit 20 --sqlite-path backend/data/hll_vietnam_dev.sqlite3`
+
+- Validation notes:
+  - the live backend at `http://127.0.0.1:8000` was not available in this environment, so route-contract validation completed through local Python imports.
+  - the local CLI command printed JSON successfully and no longer raised `TypeError: Object of type datetime is not JSON serializable`.
+  - production behavior described in the task context remains confirmed: snapshot generation already worked, and the observed failure was only the final CLI JSON print step.
+
+## Change Budget
+
+- Prefer fewer than 5 modified files.
+- Prefer changes under 200 lines when feasible.
+- Split the work into follow-up tasks if limits are exceeded.
diff --git a/backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py b/backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py
index d8a6eb4..fe2aac4 100644
--- a/backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py
+++ b/backend/app/rcon_historical_leaderboards.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import argparse
 import json
 import os
 from contextlib import closing
-from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+from datetime import date, datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Literal
 
@@ -1237,6 +1237,14 @@ def _to_iso(value: object) -> str:
     return parsed.astimezone(timezone.utc).isoformat().replace("+00:00", "Z")
 
 
+def _json_default(value: object) -> str:
+    if isinstance(value, datetime):
+        return _to_iso(value)
+    if isinstance(value, date):
+        return value.isoformat()
+    raise TypeError(f"Object of type {type(value).__name__} is not JSON serializable")
+
+
 def _main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="Read and generate weekly/monthly ranking snapshots.",
@@ -1279,7 +1287,14 @@ def _main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             replace_existing=args.replace_existing,
             db_path=args.sqlite_path,
         )
-        print(json.dumps({"status": "ok", "data": payload}, ensure_ascii=True, indent=2))
+        print(
+            json.dumps(
+                {"status": "ok", "data": payload},
+                ensure_ascii=True,
+                indent=2,
+                default=_json_default,
+            )
+        )
         return 0
 
     parser.print_help()
diff --git a/scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1 b/scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1
index 6882dc8..e0a1685 100644
--- a/scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1
+++ b/scripts/run-stats-validation.ps1
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ import os
 import sqlite3
 import sys
 from contextlib import contextmanager, redirect_stdout
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from datetime import date, datetime, timezone
 from io import StringIO
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -293,7 +293,14 @@ def validate_ranking_snapshot_cli_defaults():
 
     def fake_generate_ranking_snapshot(**kwargs):
         captured.update(kwargs)
-        return {"status": "ok", "snapshot": None, "items": []}
+        return {
+            "status": "ok",
+            "snapshot": {
+                "generated_at": datetime(2026, 6, 9, 8, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
+                "window_start": date(2026, 6, 2),
+            },
+            "items": [],
+        }
 
     ranking_leaderboards.generate_ranking_snapshot = fake_generate_ranking_snapshot
 
@@ -312,8 +319,18 @@ def validate_ranking_snapshot_cli_defaults():
             captured.get("db_path") is None,
             "Ranking snapshot CLI should use PostgreSQL-compatible db_path=None by default.",
         )
+        serialized_default_payload = json.loads(stdout_buffer.getvalue())
+        require(
+            serialized_default_payload.get("data", {}).get("snapshot", {}).get("generated_at") == "2026-06-09T08:00:00Z",
+            "Ranking snapshot CLI should serialize datetime values as ISO strings.",
+        )
+        require(
+            serialized_default_payload.get("data", {}).get("snapshot", {}).get("window_start") == "2026-06-02",
+            "Ranking snapshot CLI should serialize date values as ISO strings.",
+        )
 
         captured.clear()
+        stdout_buffer = StringIO()
         with redirect_stdout(stdout_buffer):
             exit_code = ranking_leaderboards._main([
                 "generate-ranking-snapshot",