The Super Cup is being played in Saudi Arabia mainly because of long-term, high‑value hosting deals that European football federations have signed with the Saudi government, which pay far more than staging the matches at home stadiums.

Follow the money

  • The Spanish federation agreed a multi‑year contract to move the Supercopa de España to Saudi Arabia, later extended to run until close to 2030, in a deal reported to be worth tens of millions of euros per year.
  • Estimates suggest the Royal Spanish Football Federation earns around €40 million per year from staging the Super Cup there, far above what it would make hosting a short tournament in Spain.
  • Similar commercial agreements exist with other leagues (like Italy’s Supercoppa), where Saudi hosts multiple editions and sometimes expanded four‑team formats, again in exchange for significant hosting fees.

Saudi sports strategy

  • Saudi Arabia is using football (and other sports like boxing, F1, golf and WWE) as part of a broader push to boost its international profile and tourism, investing heavily to attract major events and star players.
  • Hosting Super Cups fits into a wider plan that also includes luring top players to the Saudi Pro League and securing the 2034 FIFA World Cup, positioning the country as a regular hub for elite football.

Why clubs and federations accept

  • Federations gain a guaranteed revenue stream and can redistribute money to clubs, infrastructure or debts, making the deals hard to turn down despite fan criticism about distance, ticket access and scheduling.
  • Big clubs benefit from appearance fees, global exposure in a new market, and the chance to grow commercial partnerships in the Gulf region.

Criticism and controversy

  • Many fans and commentators argue that moving traditional “home” trophies abroad, especially to Saudi Arabia, is an example of “sportswashing,” helping to soften the country’s image despite ongoing human rights concerns.
  • There have also been flashpoints around political and cultural issues when other Super Cups were scheduled in Saudi Arabia, which fuel debate about whether football should accept such hosting agreements.

Quick forum‑style takeaway

In forum discussions, the most common answer to “why is the Super Cup in Saudi?” is basically: “because the federations get huge money and Saudi gets global PR.”

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