Why Is the Saudi Super Cup Being Held In Abu Dhabi & Not In Saudi Arabia?

In less than a few hours, the 2024 edition of the Saudi Super Cup kicks off. Excitement is plenty as the best teams in the country are set to face off in a high-stakes affair. Al Ittihad are the reigning champions, having won their first title last year. However, unlike 2023, this time the matches are not scheduled in Saudi Arabia! In fact, SAFF has decided to conduct the entire tournament in the UAE, namely in Abu Dhabi. What is the reason for the change? Let’s find out below.

The popularity of the Saudi Pro League has witnessed a drastic increase recently. This is due to the influx of superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, and N’golo Kante to name a few. As such, the league’s visibility has significantly increased in neighboring countries, including the UAE. Also, Saudi Arabia is keen to develop a soccer partnership with UAE as per SAFF president Yasser al-Misehal.

He said, “It extends the close cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in football, enhancing sponsorship initiatives to achieve common aspirations through supporting knowledge exchange and development.” Hence, it makes sense why the UAE (Abu Dhabi) got the hosting rights for the Saudi Super Cup.

Another factor is the placement of the Saudi Super Cup. The Semi-finals are scheduled on Eid ul-Fitr, a public holiday across the GCC. Hence, despite the new location, the tournament will see a lot of audience from the GCC region, making it a low-risk move.

Now, that we got the location part out of the way, who do you reckon are the favorites for the Saudi Super Cup? Let’s look at the teams in question.

Analyzing the contenders for the Saudi Super Cup 2024

The four teams that made it into the Saudi Super Cup are Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Wehda. Among these, it’s safe to say that Al Hilal is the favorite. Incidentally, they are the most successful side in the tournament’s history with 3 titles. Moreover, they are in ominous form this season and are undefeated in the league.

Al Nassr on the hand is doing well in the league. Cristiano Ronaldo is leading from the front but Al Hilal has been their Achilles heel this season. In both matches previously, Jorge Jesus’ side came out on top. As such, Castro even wanted special preparation for this particular fixture. Hence, surpassing Al Hilal in the semis could be a mountain too high to climb for the Knights of Najd.

Read More: Al Hilal Boss Plays ‘Mind Games’ With Cristiano Ronaldo & Al Nassr Before Saudi Super League Clash, Fans React

Al Ittihad has the potential to be the dark horse in the tournament. They have been knocked out of the AFC Champions League and the League is pretty much gone as well. Hence, they are a team with nothing to lose, and their opponent for tomorrow is Al Wehda, a team placed 12th in the league. As such chances are high that Al Ittihad could reach the final and potentially surprise everyone.

Al Wehda on paper does not have the superstar quality of the other 3. Moreover, the team has not quite clicked this season and hence finds themselves in the bottom half of the table. But soccer is unpredictable as Al Wehda on their day can beat anyone.

Read More: Echoing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Complaints, Luis Castro Warns Saudi Referees for Al Nassr vs Al Hilal in Saudi Super Cup Semi-Final