This historic competition, with a history stretching back almost fifty years, is once again set to begin its campaign. This edition, like four of the last five, will be staged away from Spain. The hosting nation is Saudi Arabia, marking the third time the event has been hosted there. The city of Riyadh will stage three matches and crown the new super champion.
Gone are the days when summer derbies lit up the stadiums and fans from both clubs filled the arenas to celebrate the season’s opening title. The format has shifted, and globalization now plays a bigger role in where games are played. In some cases, a single match decides the title and travels far from home base. The move towards a more global schedule continues to redefine the relationship between fans and the game.
Since 2018, the Spanish Super Cup has been held outside Spain. This edition chose Tangier in Morocco for a single-match format, already sold out. Since then — aside from 2021 when Covid-19 interrupted the plan — Saudi Arabia has become the tournament’s new home, first in the port city of Jeddah and then in the Riyadh desert for a second consecutive year. The distance from Barcelona is roughly 6,000 kilometers, illustrating the geographic shift involved.
An important development for fans is the ongoing collaboration between the Royal Football Association and the Asian host country. The agreement to host the tournament through 2029 is designed to bring stability and exposure to the competition while contributing significantly to the federation’s coffers. The deal is reported to bring between 240 and 320 million euros in guaranteed revenue.
For this edition, the participating clubs include Barcelona and Real Madrid with a generous allocation of 2.8 million euros each, Valencia with 1.7 million euros, and Betis with 750 thousand euros. The prize structure includes an additional one million euros for reaching the final and another million for winning. Taken together, clubs can expect around 12 million euros from the 40 million euros the RFEF anticipates for the season, with 20 million of the remaining amount allocated to non-professional football. Another notable facet of the negotiations is Cosmos, a company associated with a well-known former player agent, which is projected to receive about 4 million euros. Opinions on the ethical and moral dimensions of these arrangements are left to readers to weigh.
Format change on the table
This edition marks the fourth time the Super Cup will feature four teams instead of two, incorporating the League champion, the Cup winner, and the runners-up. In the most recent three instances, the tournament did not showcase the reigning champions in the final rounds.
The format first emerged in 2020 with a new schedule, venue, and date. Real Madrid took a back seat as Barcelona became league champions and Cup runner-up, while Atletico Madrid finished third in the league. In a twist of fate, Real Madrid captured the title by defeating Atletico Madrid in the final. The old format allowed only Barcelona and Valencia to participate, and they both reached the semi-finals.
In 2021, Athletic Club mirrored its 2015 triumph by winning the second title in three decades. The Lions arrived as Cup runners-up and beat Barcelona with an early extra-time strike from Iñaki Williams, securing the victory. Real Madrid entered as league runners-up and carried the competition to Arabian skies. This season will show whether the coins settle on Real Madrid and Betis as league and cup champions or if the invited clubs join to complete the four-team field: Barcelona and Valencia stepping in as league runners-up and cup runners-up, respectively.
As the season unfolds, the balance of power will be watched closely. The competition remains a focal point for fans who crave marquee clashes, dramatic finishes, and a glimpse of the evolving landscape of Spanish football on a global stage.