FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao will face each other in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona is participating in the mini-tournament as the reigning champion of both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, while Bilbao is participating after finishing fourth in La Liga last season.
Date and Time of the Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Spanish Super Cup Match
The Barcelona vs Bilbao match will be held on Wednesday, January 7, at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, which has a capacity of up to 62,345 spectators.
The match between Barcelona and Bilbao is scheduled to kick off at 22:00 Qatar and Saudi Arabia time, 23:00 UAE time.
Channels Broadcasting the Barcelona vs Bilbao Match
The Spanish Super Cup matches will be broadcast on the Saudi “Eight” app, which holds the broadcasting rights in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Barcelona retains fond memories of its last appearance in Saudi Arabia in January 2025, when it achieved a resounding 5-2 victory over Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona is the team with the most Spanish Super Cup wins, with 15 titles, including victories in two of the last three seasons.
The winner of this match will face either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid in the final on Sunday.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a historic coastal city in northeastern Spain, renowned for its unique Catalan culture and architecture. It was founded as a Roman city and later flourished as a major medieval trading power, with its most famous architectural works, like Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, stemming from a late 19th-century modernist boom.
RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Spain, founded in 1900 by Ángel Rodríguez Ruiz, an engineering student from the University of Barcelona. It was established as Sociedad Española de Football to give a sporting identity to the native Spanish population of Catalonia, distinct from the more internationally-founded FC Barcelona. The club has a long history in Spanish football, including multiple Copa del Rey victories and periods in both the first and second divisions.
FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, Catalan, German, and English footballers. It is more than a sports club, representing Catalan identity and culture, famously operating under the motto “Més que un club” (More than a club). The club is owned by its members and is renowned for its historically successful, attacking style of play and its iconic Camp Nou stadium.
RCDE Stadium
RCDE Stadium is the home of the Spanish football club RCD Espanyol, located in the Cornellà-El Prat district of Barcelona. It opened in 2009, replacing the club’s former ground, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, and has a capacity of approximately 40,000 spectators.
Cornella de Llobregat
Cornellà de Llobregat is a municipality in Catalonia, Spain, located on the banks of the Llobregat River. Its history dates back to Roman times, with significant growth occurring during the industrial revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries, transforming it into a major industrial and residential hub near Barcelona.
Spanish Super Cup
The Spanish Super Cup is an annual football competition contested by the winners of Spain’s top league (La Liga) and domestic cup (Copa del Rey). Historically a two-team fixture played in August, its format was expanded in 2020 to include four teams and is now frequently hosted in Saudi Arabia as part of a commercial agreement.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a modern nation-state founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, unifying the regions of Najd and Hejaz. It is the birthplace of Islam, home to the religion’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, which have been central to Islamic history and pilgrimage for over fourteen centuries.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao is a professional football club based in Bilbao, Spain, founded in 1898. It is historically notable for its unique “cantera” policy, which mandates that the club only fields players native to or trained in the greater Basque Country.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a modern nation-state founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who unified the regions of Najd and Hejaz. It is the birthplace of Islam, home to the religion’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, and its history and culture are deeply rooted in the Arabian Peninsula’s ancient tribal traditions and its central role in the Islamic world.
La Liga
La Liga is the top professional football division in Spain, founded in 1929. It is one of the world’s most prestigious football leagues, historically dominated by clubs such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is Spain’s premier annual domestic football (soccer) knockout tournament, first contested in 1903. It is one of the oldest football competitions in the world and is open to teams from La Liga and the lower divisions.
Bilbao
Bilbao is a city in northern Spain’s Basque Country, historically an industrial port hub. Its modern transformation is symbolized by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a titanium-clad contemporary art museum that opened in 1997 and spurred significant urban and cultural renewal.
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is a major multi-purpose sports venue that opened in 2014. It was constructed as part of a larger sports city complex and is notable for hosting major football matches, including the Saudi Super Cup and the 2017 Spanish Super Cup.
Jeddah
Jeddah is a major port city on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, historically serving as the gateway for Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca. Its historic core, Al-Balad, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its distinctive coral stone and wooden architecture, reflecting centuries of trade and cultural exchange.
Qatar
Qatar is a sovereign country located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, historically shaped by its Bedouin heritage and maritime traditions like pearl diving. Its modern history was transformed by the discovery of vast oil and natural gas reserves in the mid-20th century, leading to rapid economic development and its emergence as a major global energy supplier. The nation is also known for its significant cultural sites, such as the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and for hosting major international events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates on the Arabian Peninsula, formed in 1971 following the end of the British protectorate treaties. Historically a region of pearl diving and trade, it has rapidly transformed into a global hub known for its modern architecture, such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and its significant cultural sites, including the historic Al Fahidi district and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Eight
“Eight” is a contemporary art installation located in the desert of Qatar, created by the renowned artist Olafur Eliasson. It consists of eight interconnected stainless steel rings that form a circular labyrinth, designed to engage with the landscape and shifting light. The piece, inaugurated in 2021, reflects themes of perception, geometry, and the environment, contributing to Qatar’s growing collection of public art.
Middle East
The Middle East is a transcontinental region centered on Western Asia and Egypt, historically home to some of the world’s earliest civilizations, including Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. It is the birthplace of major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and has been a central crossroads of trade, culture, and empires for millennia. Its modern history has been profoundly shaped by the Ottoman Empire, European colonialism, the discovery of vast oil reserves, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
North Africa
North Africa is a region encompassing countries along the Mediterranean coast and the Sahara Desert, historically home to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Carthaginians, and Numidians. It later became a major part of the Islamic world following the Arab conquests in the 7th century, profoundly shaping its cultural and architectural identity. The area’s history also includes periods of Ottoman rule and European colonization before the emergence of modern nation-states.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain, founded in 1902. It is one of the world’s most successful and widely supported clubs, historically renowned for its European dominance, particularly winning a record 14 UEFA Champions League titles.
Atletico Madrid
Atlético Madrid is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain, founded in 1903. Historically, it has been one of Spanish football’s most successful clubs, known for its passionate fanbase and a strong identity often characterized by resilience and fighting spirit.
