Saudi Supercup 2025: Clash of stars in Hong-Kong
by Thobelani Moyo | by Joseph King
Al Nassr: Can the Global One finally end their two-year trophy drought?
Al Nassr last lifted a trophy in the 2022-23 season. They managed to get their hands on the regional trophy—Campeonato de Clubes Arabes. Since then, it has been two years without adding any silverware to their trophy cabinet.
Despite snatching Cristiano Ronaldo's signature in 2023 with hopes of bringing back the glory days at Al-Awwal Park, the situation remains stagnant.
This season, though, the team has high hopes for the upcoming campaign. The first step is in clinching the Saudi Super Cup. They are no strangers to this competition, having been crowned champions on two occasions.
The Global One's breakthrough came in the 2019-20 season, clinching their first-ever title in this competition. They went on to defend their crown in the 2020-21 season, but that was the last time they ruled the Saudi Super Cup stage, with the following editions proving too difficult to conquer.
Al Nassr: Who are the new signings?
- Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) – €25.0 million
- Inigo Martinez (Barcelona) – Free transfer
- Joao Felix (Chelsea) – €30.0 million
- Abdulmalik Al-Jaber (Zeljeznicar) – €1.8 million
- Nader Al-Sharari (Al Shabab) - Free transfer
With Al Hilal out of the picture in this edition, the only threat standing in Al Nassr's way of securing a third Saudi Super Cup crown is Al Ittihad.
Al Ittihad had one of their best runs in the previous season. From winning the Saudi Pro League and being crowned King's Cup champions for the first time in seven years, their eyes are set on starting the 2025-26 Saudi Arabia season with silverware.
The Saudi Super Cup is on their radar, and this won't be the first time they get to compete in this competition. In five appearances, they lifted the trophy just once, and this was two years ago. Expectations are leaning towards adding a second.
Al Ittihad: Who are the new signings?
- Mohammed Al-Absi (Al Shabab) - Undisclosed
- Mohammed Hazazi (Al Nassr) - Free transfer
- Mohammed Barnawi (Al Hilal) – Free transfer
- Hamed Al-Ghamdi (Al Ettifaq) – €8.6 million
- Ahmed Al-Julaydan (Al Fateh) – €10.9 million
Al Hilal's controversial withdrawal opens doors for a surprise entrant
Al Hilal decided to withdraw from the Saudi Super Cup and focus its attention on the FIFA Club World Cup.
The consequences of their actions are a ban from the 13th edition, which is set to take place in the 2026-27 season. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation imposed this ban.
As the saying goes, one man's loss is another man's gain - that rings true for Al Ahli, who will act as Al Hilal's replacement in this tournament. Matthias Jaissle's men are making their third appearance in the Saudi Super Cup.
They are one-time champions in this tournament after lifting the trophy back in 2016 at Craven Cottage Stadium in London when it was still a two-man contest. Going down memory lane, this was also the same season in which they clinched a historic domestic treble, adding the Saudi Pro League and King's Cup in the mix.
A look at their achievements in the last season saw them conclude the campaign with a trophy to their name despite a poor run in the Saudi Pro League. For the first time in club history, Al Ahli added the AFC Champions League Elite to their trophy cabinet. On paper, this was their first major trophy in nine years.
Al Ahli: Who are the new signings?
- Enzo Millot (VfB Stuttgart) - €28 million.
- Mohammed Abdulrahman (Al Ettifaq) – €5.8 million
Al Qadsiah: Newcomers eyeing first Saudi Super Cup triumph
Out of the quartet of teams participating in the Saudi Super Cup, Al Qadsiah are the only side that have yet to get their hands on the prestigious silverware.
However, they can be forgiven, considering this is their first appearance in this tournament. Their participation was guaranteed because of their domestic cup performance in the previous season.
Qadsiah finished as runners-up in the King's Cup after losing 3-1 against Laurent Blanc's Al Ittihad at King Abdullah Sports City.
Their opponents in the semi-final will be Al Ahli, and this marks the first meeting between the two sides in the Saudi Super Cup. Find out what our experts have to say in the Al Qadsiah vs Al Ahli prediction.
Al Qadsiah: Who are the new signings?
- Mohammed Al-Thani (Al Hazem) – €2.5 million
- Abdullah Al-Salem (Al Khaleej) - Free transfer
- Christopher Bonsu (Genk) – €17.0 million
- Mateo Retegui (Atalanta) – €68.3 million
- Mshari Sanyoor (Al Raed) – €1.2 million
- Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al Hilal) - Free transfer
- Musab Al-Juwayr (Al Hilal) - €11.5 million
- Gabriel Carvalho Teixeira (Internacional) – €15.6 million
