Kuwait signs agreement to host the Saudi Super Cup football tournament in Riyadh
Riyadh, Sept 14 (KUNA) – The Saudi capital, Riyadh, witnessed today the signing of an agreement to host the 13th edition of the Saudi Super Cup for the 2026-2027 season in Kuwait. The tournament will take place from December 19 to 23 next year, in the presence of Kuwait Football Association President Sheikh Ahmed Yousuf Al-Saud Al-Sabah and his Saudi counterpart, Badr Al-Rizaiya.
The agreement was signed by Rashid Al-Omair, CEO of Al-Ray Media Group; Abdullah Al-Shatti, CEO of Aayan Leasing and Investment Company; and Sultan Al-Sheikh, CEO of SMC Vibes, making the Al-Ray and Aayan alliance the official partner for hosting the tournament.
The competition will be held at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, featuring four clubs: Al-Nassr, Al-Khaleej, Al-Ahli, and Al-Qadsiah. The tournament draw will take place in Kuwait on October 14 to determine the semi-final matchups, after which tickets will be made available to the public.
Kuwait marks the eighth stop in the Saudi Super Cup’s journey, which has traveled since its inception between various local and international cities, including Mecca, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Abha, as well as London, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong, before making its debut in Kuwait for the first time.
In this regard, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Football Association Board, stated in a press statement that Kuwait’s hosting of the Saudi Super Cup adds value to the Gulf sports landscape, expressing hope for delivering a distinguished edition befitting the tournament’s stature and the participating teams.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousuf emphasized that the hosting reflects the deep fraternal relations between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting the significant attention and interest Saudi football receives from Kuwaiti fans.
For his part, Badr Al-Rizaiya, President of the Saudi Football Association Board, stressed in a similar statement the importance of the Saudi Super Cup within the federation’s competition framework, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop the tournament and enhance its fan and commercial presence.
Al-Rizaiya noted that hosting the next edition in Kuwait represents a historic opportunity to strengthen the tournament’s presence in the Gulf region, reach a broader audience, and build strategic partnerships that contribute to enhancing its value and supporting the sustainability and development of Saudi football.
On his side, Fahad Al-Ghanim, Vice President of the Board of Directors at Aayan Leasing and Investment Company, stated in a similar comment that the alliance between Al-Ray and Aayan in hosting the tournament underscores the capability and effectiveness of the Kuwaiti private sector in driving development across various fields, leveraging its capacities and expertise.
Al-Ghanim clarified that the Kuwaiti private sector enjoys significant attention and plays a fundamental role in improving the business environment and promoting national progress and development, thanks to high-level directives.
He affirmed that the Al-Ray and Aayan alliance will mobilize all available capabilities, resources, and expertise to deliver a distinguished edition befitting the tournament’s name and the stature of the participating teams, meeting fan expectations and reflecting Kuwait’s ability to organize a large-scale sporting event at a high professional standard.
For his part, Rashid Al-Omair, CEO of Al-Ray Media Group, expressed in a similar statement his anticipation of working with the Saudi Football Association and SMC Vibes to deliver a distinguished edition that aligns with the tournament’s stature and the level of interest Saudi football garners among Kuwaiti fans.
Al-Omair said that hosting the Saudi Super Cup in Kuwait represents a new pivotal milestone in the trajectory of Kuwait’s media and sports presence, reflecting the level of fruitful cooperation achieved by national partnerships, adding that this would not have been possible without the support of the political leadership and high-level directives to strengthen public-private partnerships to support national development.
In a similar statement, Sultan Al-Sheikh, CEO of SMC Vibes, said that Kuwait’s hosting of the Saudi Super Cup represents a new step toward expanding the tournament’s presence and enhancing its commercial value, thereby delivering greater value to the tournament, its partners, and its fans.
Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Sayer, CEO of Al-Ray Global Advertising and Public Relations Company, revealed that special events will accompany the Saudi Super Cup, with details to be announced soon, particularly given the anticipated fan enthusiasm surrounding the tournament.
Al-Sayer noted that the Al-Ray and Aayan alliance will place all its capabilities at the service of the event, organizing it in a manner befitting the tournament’s value and stature.
Hosting the tournament in Kuwait carries a Gulf dimension that transcends sporting competition, given the close historical and fraternal relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the social and geographical proximity between the peoples of the two countries, and their shared passion for football, all of which will provide the tournament with distinctive fan atmospheres and enhance its presence at the Gulf level. (End) K.N.S./A.M.H.
