The Spanish Super Cup is played in Saudi Arabia mainly because of a lucrative long‑term hosting deal between the Spanish football federation and the Saudi government, aimed at bringing in more money and global exposure. Many fans and observers, however, criticise the move as a money‑grab and part of Saudi Arabia’s wider sportswashing strategy.

Why is the Spanish Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia?

The basic deal

  • In 2019 the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) signed an agreement to move the Supercopa de España to Saudi Arabia starting from the 2019‑20 season.
  • Reports say Saudi Arabia pays tens of millions of euros per edition (often cited around €30–40m) in return for hosting rights, making it far more profitable than staging the games in Spain.
  • The original three‑year deal has since been extended, with current arrangements reported to run to at least 2028–2029.

Money, format change, and “globalisation”

  • The Super Cup was expanded from a simple match between league and cup winners to a four‑team “Final Four” mini‑tournament, which makes it a more marketable event for a foreign host.
  • Officials frame the move as a way to “globalise” Spanish football, reach new audiences in the Middle East, and showcase La Liga’s biggest clubs abroad.
  • Saudi Arabia, for its part, uses such events to diversify its economy beyond oil and build itself into a worldwide sports and entertainment hub.

Sportswashing and criticism

  • Human‑rights groups and many fans argue that hosting the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia helps polish the image of a state criticised for serious human‑rights abuses, calling it a classic case of sportswashing.
  • Supporters on forums often describe the move as a “shameless money grab”, saying the federation has put profit above local fans, fan culture, and ethical concerns.
  • Some players and Spanish fans also complain that only a small fraction of the usual supporter base can actually travel to Jeddah, reducing the atmosphere that would exist if the matches were held in Spain.

Who benefits financially?

  • The RFEF receives the bulk of the fee from Saudi Arabia, with only part of it going into prize money and appearance fees for the participating clubs.
  • There is particular dependence on Real Madrid and Barcelona : some reports suggest the federation loses bonuses if neither reaches the final or if one of them does not qualify, which reinforces the feeling that the tournament is being engineered around big‑club appeal and TV money.
  • Past leaks and media reports have also mentioned intermediaries and commissions linked to the deal, which further fuel fan resentment and suspicions of self‑interest at the top of Spanish football.

Forum talk and “latest news” angle

  • On fan forums and social media, the dominant answers to “why is the Spanish Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia?” boil down to three words: “money, exposure, sportswashing.”
  • Recent coverage ahead of the January 2026 edition continues to highlight the same tension: record income for the federation and host country on one side, and ongoing unease over human rights, fan access, and the erosion of traditional home‑and‑away culture on the other.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.