After years in Saudi Arabia, Italy’s Serie A has confirmed that this year’s Supercoppa will be held on home soil – and in a legendary stadium.
League president Luigi De Siervo had already hinted in the middle of the year that, after four years in Saudi Arabia, Italian football would no longer be holding its annual Supercoppa in the desert nation – the situation is too volatile due to the war with Iran in the Middle East.
This is now how it has turned out, even though an option for another edition in Saudi Arabia was enshrined in the contracts. This has further consequences: not only is the league thereby foregoing lucrative millions from Saudi Arabia, but this year’s edition will also no longer be held as a mini-tournament, as was the case in three of the last four editions.
Consequently, there will be no four teams competing in two semi-finals and a play-off; instead, the format is as follows: the reigning champions and cup winners, Inter Milan, will face Lazio Rome, the capital club that lost 0–2 in the cup final.
This final between the current second- and third-placed teams in Serie A will take place on 22 December (Tuesday) at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, the home ground of the double winners. This was officially announced on Friday.
It is therefore also clear that Serie A has rejected other options in favour of a decision to hold the match at San Siro. This is because, alongside the clause to return to Saudi Arabia, the USA had also been considered. According to Italian media reports, interest from overseas remains, so this may well be on the agenda again in the near future, and possibly as early as 2027.
Morocco had also expressed an interest in hosting the Supercoppa Italiana, but these talks stalled.
Napoli to be replaced
One thing is already clear: there will be a new Supercoppa winner. Last year, the then champions Napoli (2–0 against Milan) and FC Bologna (3–2 on penalties against Inter) had prevailed in their matches against the Milan clubs, before the Neapolitans clinched the title with a 2–0 victory in the final. Juventus, meanwhile, have the most Supercoppa victories to their name (nine) – though the Old Lady last won the trophy in 2020.