RIYADH: The Italian Super Cup returns to Saudi Arabia this Thursday, December 18, a milestone that reflects more than the appeal of a stellar four-team tournament.
With the tournament set to take place at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, the 38th edition of the competition offers a clear illustration of how Saudi’s role as a football host has evolved from novelty to consistency.
2024/25 Serie A champions Napoli are participating for the sixth time, with Coppa Italia winners Bologna making their Super Cup debut after lifting their first domestic cup in 51 years.
Two of the Super Cup’s most successful clubs, Milan rivals Inter and AC Milan – both eight-time winners – will also take part, after finishing runners-up in the Serie A and Coppa Italia respectively.
While high-quality football is expected on the pitch, the tournament’s repeated return to the Kingdom points to a broader shift. When it was staged for the first time in 2018, the match was viewed largely as a one-off showcase.
61,235 fans packed the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah to witness a decisive Ronaldo strike that led Juventus to the title at the expense of AC Milan.
That fan presence has not gone unnoticed by clubs themselves. Speaking after Napoli’s arrival in Riyadh, head coach Antonio Conte highlighted how these fixtures are increasingly viewed as an opportunity to connect with supporters beyond Europe.
“Meeting Napoli fans in Riyadh was a great feeling,” Conte said. “Seeing that you have many fans across the world pushes you to do more for them and to continue growing as a club.”
Five editions later, the Super Cup is no longer seen as an experiment, but as part of a wider pattern in Saudi Arabia’s sporting calendar. Here, events aren’t just hosted once, but renewed and repeated.
The Italian Super Cup sits alongside other football events that have established long-term roots in the Kingdom, most notably the Spanish Super Cup, which has returned four times since 2020.
Beyond football, Saudi Arabia has also seen the regular returns of major international events such as the Dakar Rally, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, UFC Fight Night and the WTA Finals, reinforcing a hosting model built on delivery rather than spectacle alone.
At the same time, the calendar continues to expand. Recent additions such as LIV Golf, the Islamic Solidarity Games, as well as upcoming events in the form of the Olympic eSports Games, the WWE Royal Rumble and the AFC Asian Cup illustrate Saudi Arabia’s broadening portfolio.
What distinguishes the Italian Super Cup’s return to Saudi Arabia is not its scale, but its familiarity. While novelty is welcome, consistency is now defining Saudi Arabia’s presence on the global sports stage.
As Saudi Arabia continues to build toward future football milestones, the Super Cup’s sixth visit serves as a reminder that growth as a host is increasingly measured by consistency, reliability and the confidence of those who choose to return.
