Uefa Super Cup Set for August Showdown in Udine
The Uefa Super Cup will be held on August 13, 2024, in Udine, Italy, featuring a thrilling clash between Paris St-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur. The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 BST at the 25,000-seater Stadio Friuli, home to Serie A club Udinese. This marks a significant event as it is the 13th venue to host the Super Cup since it moved from Monaco in 2012.
This annual fixture pits the winners of the Champions League against the victors of the Europa League. This season will crown a new champion, as PSG, former runners-up, face debutants Spurs. Paris St-Germain secured their spot after an impressive 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, while Tottenham earned their place by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final held in May.
In the previous Super Cup, Real Madrid triumphed over Atalanta with a score of 2-0, thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and debutant Kylian Mbappe. Real Madrid holds the record for the most Super Cup titles, having lifted the trophy six times since its inception.
History and Format of the Super Cup
The Uefa Super Cup was conceived by Dutch reporter Anton Witkamp to determine the top club side in Europe. The inaugural competition took place in 1972 when Ajax defeated Rangers over two legs. Initially, the Super Cup was contested between the winners of the European Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup. Following the discontinuation of the latter in 1999, the match transitioned to an annual showdown between the Champions League and Europa League winners.
Despite the introduction of the Conference League in 2021, its winners are not eligible for the Super Cup. The venue selection process for the match involves football associations bidding to host major Uefa events. Uefa invites member associations to express interest, and those successful in their bids must meet specific requirements before their proposals are reviewed by Uefa’s executive committee.
The winning team of the Super Cup will receive €5 million (approximately £4.3 million) in prize money, while the runners-up will take home €4 million (around £3.4 million).
Football fans can look forward to an exciting match as two of Europe’s top clubs battle for the prestigious trophy in Udine this August.
