The trophy slated for 2024 has already found its champion in Osasuna, signaling a remarkable season ahead. The Spanish Super Cup has undergone a significant overhaul, with a bold Final Four format designed to shake up traditional knockout drama and bring a fresh energy to the competition.
In a move announced by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the event will feature a four-team mini-tournament that replaces the old structure, which usually crowned the cup winner and league champion based on a single match or a two-team final. The new model centers on a Final Four, bringing together the top finishers from La Liga and the Copa del Rey finalists to battle it out in a concise, high-stakes format. For 2024, Osasuna holds the top seed, reflecting a season marked by standout performances and resilience across domestic competitions.
Previously, the inaugural edition under this fresh format delivered a dramatic finale. Real Madrid edged Atlético de Madrid on penalties after a tense clash in Valencia, with both Barça and Athletic Club participating in that edition held in Saudi Arabia. The format has evolved through 2021 and 2022, with Real Madrid claiming titles in both years, beating Athletic Club Bilbao and Barcelona in the knockout stages, while the Catalans secured a trophy by defeating Betis and other contenders in the semi-finals and final. The competition has traveled between venues in Spain and the Saudi host country, reflecting ongoing experimentation with location and logistics to maximize fan engagement and global visibility.
Spanish Super Cup 2024: Teams, format, dates, and venues
The 2024 edition will feature four teams in a single-elimination bracket, culminating in a final that determines the season’s Super Cup winner. The arrangement calls for the league champion to meet the Copa del Rey runner-up, while the Copa del Rey champion faces the league runner-up, creating a balanced clash of the season’s top performers. If Barcelona or Real Madrid are the same teams occupying multiple high finishes, the third-placed La Liga team can be drawn into the lineup based on the final standings. Additionally, the four participants receive a by from the first two rounds of the next Copa del Rey, ensuring their short-term rhythm stays intact for the following campaign.
Where it’s played: venues and stadiums
The format’s recent history has swung between Saudi Arabia and Spain, with the early seasons pausing in Córdoba and Málaga for semi-finals and the Seville Stadium of La Cartuja hosting the 2021 final. The 2022/23 edition returned to Saudi soil, aligning with the competition’s broader strategy to grow the event’s footprint and appeal. The ongoing conversation around venue selection emphasizes both commercial opportunities and the spectacle’s impact on domestic football calendars. The evolving approach also reflects the desire to showcase Spanish clubs on a global stage while honoring traditional regional venues that have become part of the Super Cup narrative.
Source: Goal