Since 2020, Real Madrid and Barcelona have been among the regular LaLiga visitors to the Gulf country in the Spanish Super Cup.
The 2025 Spanish Super Cup starts on Wednesday (January 8), with the final four to be played again in Saudi Arabia. While the last three editions took place in Riyadh, this year's tournament will be held in Jeddah, having previously taken place in 2020.
Spanish Super Cup 2025: teams, matches, dates, location
Athletic Club, winners of the 2023/24 Copa del Rey, will face LaLiga runners-up Barcelona in the first semi-final on Wednesday, while champions Real Madrid will face the defeated cup finalists on Thursday (January 9) Mallorca in the other last four. .
The final is scheduled for Sunday, January 12. All three matches of the tournament will be played at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Spain moves the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia
In 2019, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Saudi government struck a lucrative deal that would see the new, expanded format move to the Gulf region. That agreement was subsequently extended to 10 years in 2021.
The initiative broke away from the previous Super Cup format which acted as a curtain raiser for the new season, which saw the previous Copa del Rey winner face the reigning LaLiga champions.
The original 2019 deal was reportedly worth $120 million and the extension will last until at least 2029.
Criticism came from many, with Amnesty International leading the protests and accusing the Spanish FA of “collaboration in this 'whitewashing' of Saudi Arabia's image”, saying there had been very little improvement in “the systematic abuse of homosexuals”. community and continued discrimination against women.”
It is estimated that the RFEF earns €40 million ($41.35 million) a year from organizing the tournament in Saudi Arabia. Spain is one of several countries to have brought their version of the Super Cup to the Gulf, followed by Italy, Turkey and most recently France.
Saudi investments in sports
Boxing, Formula 1, golf, WWE and football are among a growing number of sports in which Saudi Arabia has invested heavily as it seeks to present a new image to a global audience.
In the summer of 2023 alone, Saudi Pro League clubs' gross expenditure reached $957 million, as players like Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, Neymar, Fabinho, Aymeric Laporte and many others joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Roshn Saudi League.
Controversy over the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup
The 2034 FIFA World Cup will also take place in the Gulf state. The awarding of the tournament has proven hugely controversial, with Saudi Arabia being confirmed as hosts after an uncontested bidding process.
FIFA had limited eligibility to Asia and Oceania, with skeptics claiming world football's governing body had bent its own rules to ensure the event would take place in Saudi Arabia, which is still pouring money into the ground.
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