L'Équipe, the renowned French free-to-air digital and terrestrial channel, has successfully extended its broadcasting rights for the Supercopa de España soccer competition until 2028. This move comes as a continuation of their coverage since 2020 and will include the semi-finals and final of the competition each year.
The announcement of this new agreement precedes the 2026 edition of the Supercopa, which is set to kick off on January 7. The four-team mini-tournament will once again be held in Saudi Arabia. Last season’s LaLiga and Copa del Rey winners Barcelona are slated to face Athletic Club in an exciting opening semi-final match. The following day promises more action with Real Madrid squaring off against Atletico Madrid in another thrilling semi-final showdown.
All matches will be broadcast live on L'Équipe's dedicated football channel in France from King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
RFEF eyes extension with Saudi Arabia amid controversy
Earlier this year, RFEF president Rafael Louzan revealed ongoing discussions about extending Spain's soccer federation's relationship with Saudi Arabia until 2034. Despite an ongoing investigation into corruption and money laundering related to bringing Supercopa to Saudi Arabia by Spanish authorities, both parties are keen on a five-year extension beyond their current agreement that expires in 2029.
Former RFEF president Luis Rubiales was arrested concerning these allegations after negotiating the initial deal that moved Supercopa to Saudi Arabia back in 2020 - a deal reportedly worth over €40 million ($41 million) per annum.
Changes in competition format and venue
Since moving to Saudi Arabia, five out of six editions have been staged there except for one instance due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions when it was held in Spain. The Supercopa deal, struck in 2019, also expanded the competition from a one-game event to a four-match affair featuring four teams - the LaLiga and Copa del Rey winners, as well as the beaten Copa del Rey finalists and second-placed LaLiga team.
The upcoming edition of Supercopa will feature several French players who have made their mark on Spanish football. These include Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Ferland Mendy; Barcelona's Joules Kounde; and Atletico's Antoine Griezmann. Their performances are sure to add an extra layer of excitement for L'Équipe’s audience back home in France.
This extended broadcasting agreement between L'Équipe and Supercopa de España is set to bring more thrilling football action to French audiences until 2028. Despite controversies surrounding its location and organization structure changes over recent years, the tournament continues to attract global attention with its high-profile matches featuring some of Europe’s top clubs.
