Saudi Arabia to Host Spanish Super Cup Under New Format, Kicking Off Today

07 January 2026at10:20

The Saudi city of Jeddah is hosting the 2026 Spanish Super Cup at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, which has a capacity of 62,345 spectators. The tournament is set to kick off today, Wednesday, and will run until Sunday, January 11, featuring a "Final Four" format that includes two semi-final matches and the final.

Four major Spanish teams are participating in the tournament: Barcelona and Real Madrid, who qualified as the finalists of the Copa del Rey, along with Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, who finished third and fourth respectively in La Liga during the past 2024-2025 season.

The tournament format will see a major change starting from 2025: matches that end in a draw in regular time will proceed directly to a penalty shootout, without extra time. Additionally, there will be no third-place playoff match.

Saudi Arabia's hosting of the tournament is part of an agreement signed in 2019 and renewed in 2021, securing its continued hosting until 2029.

The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, January 7: Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao (20:00 GMT+1)

Thursday, January 8: Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid (20:00 GMT+1)

Final: Sunday, January 11 (20:00 GMT+1)

Q&A

Where is the Spanish Super Cup tournament taking place?

The Spanish Super Cup is being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. This hosting arrangement is part of an agreement secured until 2029.

How have the rules for the Spanish Super Cup changed?

From 2025, matches ending in a draw will proceed directly to a penalty shootout, eliminating extra time. Also, there will no longer be a third-place playoff match.

Which teams are competing in the Spanish Super Cup and how did they qualify?

Barcelona and Real Madrid qualified as Copa del Rey finalists. Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao secured their places by finishing third and fourth in the 2024-2025 La Liga season.