When Inter Milan and Atalanta crossed the white line at Alawwal Park for the first Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, it marked the latest key moment in an ever-strengthening bond between Saudi Arabia and Italian football.

Since its inception in 1988, the competition has not been afraid to take the show on the road; the United States, Libya, China, and Qatar have all hosted past editions. Now, it’s Saudi Arabia. Beyond acting simply as temporary hosts, it is part of a wider strategic partnership to benefit football in both nations.

The benefits for Italian football? The opportunity to showcase some of its best players and clubs in front of the passionate local football community.

The benefits for Saudi Arabia? Not only an opportunity to experience Italian football in all its glory, but another chance for its young population to be inspired to get active and live healthy lives.

The Italian Super Cup is the latest moment in Saudi Arabia’s year-round schedule of high-profile sports events; over 115 since 2018. These partnerships aim to encourage youth participation, foster greater international collaboration and also invite guests from around the world to experience the country’s unique culture.

Saudi Arabia has always been passionate for football, over 80% of the country follows the sport, the Saudi Pro League is growing on and off the pitch, while the country is a regular host of international football, including of course, the FIFA World Cup 2034.

With participation in sports up by 300 percent since 2015 and football participation increasing by 58 percent since 2021, Saudi Arabia is proving that sport is more than a game – it’s a driver of national transformation.

This year will be the fifth time the Supercoppa Italiana will be held in Saudi Arabia. It made its debut in the Kingdom in January 2019 when Juventus edged out AC Milan in Jeddah, thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal. The Supercoppa Italiana returned to Saudi Arabia 11 months later, this time in Riyadh and Ronaldo’s soon-to-be-home ground of King Saud University Stadium (now known as Alawwal Park). Juventus again contested the final but were unable to retain the trophy in front of 23,000 supporters as Lazio ran out 3-1 winners.

The competition remained in Italy for 2020 and 2021 but was back in Riyadh in January 2023 for the 2022 edition, with rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan battling for both the trophy and city bragging rights. A commanding 3-0 victory for Inter Milan was witnessed by more than 51,000 fans at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Played in January last year, the 2023 Supercoppa Italiana made its way back to Alawwal Park in Riyadh. The semi-finals saw Coppa Italia winners Inter Milan defeat Serie A runners-up Lazio and league champions Napoli beat Coppa Italia finalists Fiorentina – both by scores of 3-0.  In the mouth-watering final, Inter Milan edged thanks to a dramatic injury-time goal from Lautaro Martinez.

Now it’s time for the next iteration and the familiar faces of Inter Milan (Serie A champion), Juventus (Coppa Italia winners), and AC Milan (Serie A runners-up) who are joined by the newest power in Italian football Atalanta. The Europa League champions who reached the Coppa Italia final last season and currently lead the league standings. The tournament will once again be held at Alawwal Park.

The four editions held so far in Saudi Arabia have drawn over 191,000 football fans from around the world, reflecting the sport’s unifying power. These events embody Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering global connections through sport while inspiring its youth to embrace active, healthy lifestyles.

📸 Abdullah Ahmed – 2025 Getty Images