In Milan, the Supercoppa Italiana is set to return to a familiar stage. San Siro will host the one-match contest on 22 December, with Inter meeting Lazio after Serie A chose to restore the competition’s traditional format.
Inter arrive as holders of both Serie A and the Coppa Italia. Lazio’s place comes from their appearance in the domestic cup final, where the Roman club were beaten 3-0 by the Nerazzurri. It gives the fixture a repeat of the season’s decisive cup meeting, this time under the winter lights of one of Italian football’s most recognisable grounds.
The decision ends a recent run of overseas editions. The previous four Supercoppe were staged in Saudi Arabia, while the tournament had adopted a four-team Final Four structure from 2023, bringing together the Serie A and Coppa Italia winners and runners-up. Napoli won the most recent edition, overcoming Bologna 2-0 in the final.
A changing calendar beyond Italy
Lega Serie A has not explained why its Saudi Arabian arrangement has come to an end. Saudi Arabia has staged six editions of the Supercoppa, in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, with substantial prize money offered to the participating clubs.
The Italian change comes amid a wider reshaping of sporting plans in the region. Spain’s Supercopa will also not be held in Saudi Arabia this season, as the country prepares to host the Asian Cup in January 2027. The Spanish four-team tournament is instead due to be played in Turkey in February.
Other major events have also been called off because of the war in the Middle East, including the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grands Prix and the Saudi Arabia Rally. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has become a prominent force across international sport, but its approach has recently become more selective, including the withdrawal of support for the LIV Golf circuit.
