The Spanish Super Cup is being played in Saudi Arabia mainly because of a very lucrative long‑term hosting deal that brings tens of millions of euros per edition to the Spanish Football Federation, plus the chance to market Spanish football globally in the Middle East. Many fans and commentators, however, see it as a move driven almost entirely by money and “sportswashing” rather than sporting tradition.

What changed with the Super Cup?

  • Since the 2019–20 season, Spain’s federation (RFEF) transformed the Supercopa from a one‑off match in Spain into a four‑team “mini‑tournament” hosted abroad, with Saudi Arabia as the main venue.
  • An initial three‑year agreement to stage the competition in Jeddah was signed in 2019 and later extended, keeping the event in Saudi Arabia through most of the 2020s.

The money and contracts behind it

  • Reports indicate Saudi Arabia agreed to pay the RFEF around tens of millions of euros per edition (figures such as about €30–40 million are widely cited) in exchange for hosting rights.
  • Only part of that money goes directly to clubs as prize and participation fees; a significant portion is distributed within the federation and its ecosystem before a ball is even kicked.

Why Saudi Arabia wants it

  • Hosting the Spanish Super Cup is part of a broader strategy to use major football events to boost the country’s international image and build its profile as a global sports hub.
  • The tournament adds to a growing calendar of high‑profile football in the kingdom, complementing big‑name signings in the Saudi Pro League and other international matches staged there.

Criticism and fan backlash

  • Many supporters on forums and social media say the move “is all about the money,” calling it a case of sportswashing and a betrayal of local fan culture in Spain.
  • Critics argue it devalues a traditional Spanish trophy, turning it into a commercial showcase far from the home fans, and raises human‑rights and ethics concerns about the host country.

How it affects the format and big clubs

  • The current format (league winner and runner‑up plus Copa del Rey winner and runner‑up) is designed to almost always include Real Madrid and Barcelona, who drive TV audiences and commercial value.
  • There are financial clauses that reportedly reduce the payout if neither Madrid nor Barça reach the final, reinforcing the dependence of the deal on those two clubs’ presence.

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