Understanding the UEFA Super Cup: Format, History, and Winners
The UEFA Super Cup is a football match organized by Europe's governing body for the sport. It marks the start of the European club season by bringing together the previous season's champions from two major competitions: the UEFA Champions League winner and the UEFA Europa League winner. This annual contest serves as an exciting kickoff event before most European leagues begin their campaigns in mid-August.
Significance of the UEFA Super Cup
Though it isn't considered Europe's most prestigious trophy, the UEFA Super Cup holds significant value. Clubs qualify by winning major European tournaments, so capturing this title remains a coveted achievement across the continent despite its showcase nature.
Teams Competing in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup
The 2026 edition features Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. PSG secured their second consecutive Champions League trophy last season and also won the last UEFA Super Cup by beating Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Aston Villa earned their place by winning the Europa League in the 2025/26 season, their first European trophy since the 2001 Intertoto Cup. Their appearance marks a return to the Super Cup stage for the first time since 1982, when they defeated Barcelona over two legs.
Match Format
The UEFA Super Cup in 2026 is decided by a single match at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, it goes directly to penalties without extra time, a rule change introduced in 2024 aimed at reducing player fatigue early in the season. Before 1998, the Super Cup was played over two legs, but now it's a one-off event.
Past Winners of the UEFA Super Cup
- 2025: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Tottenham (PSG won 5-4 on penalties)
- 2024: Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta
- 2023: Manchester City 1-1 Sevilla (Manchester City won 5-4 on penalties)
- 2022: Real Madrid 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
- 2021: Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (Chelsea won 6-5 on penalties)
- 2020: Bayern Munich 2-1 Sevilla (after extra time)
- 2019: Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea (Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties)
- 2018: Atletico Madrid 4-2 Real Madrid (after extra time)
- 2017: Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester United
- 2016: Real Madrid 3-2 Sevilla (after extra time)
- 2015: Barcelona 5-4 Sevilla (after extra time)
- 2014: Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
- 2013: Bayern Munich 2-2 Chelsea (Bayern won 5-4 on penalties)
- 2012: Atletico Madrid 4-1 Chelsea
- 2011: Barcelona 2-0 Porto
- 2010: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Inter
- 2009: Barcelona 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (after extra time)
- 2008: Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 Manchester United
- 2007: Milan 3-1 Sevilla
- 2006: Sevilla 3-0 Barcelona
- 2005: Liverpool 3-1 CSKA Moscow (after extra time)
- 2004: Valencia 2-1 Porto
- 2003: Milan 1-0 Porto
- 2002: Real Madrid 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
- 2001: Liverpool 3-2 Bayern Munich
- 2000: Galatasaray 2-1 Real Madrid (golden goal)
- 1999: Lazio 1-0 Manchester United
- 1998: Chelsea 1-0 Real Madrid
- 1997: Barcelona 3-1 Borussia Dortmund (aggregate)
- 1996: Juventus 9-2 Paris Saint-Germain (aggregate)
- 1995: Ajax 5-1 Real Zaragoza (aggregate)
- 1994: Milan 2-0 Arsenal (aggregate)
- 1993: Parma 2-1 Milan (aggregate)
- 1992: Barcelona 3-2 Werder Bremen (aggregate)
- 1991: Manchester United 1-0 Red Star Belgrade
- 1990: Milan 3-1 Sampdoria (aggregate)
- 1989: Milan 2-1 Barcelona (aggregate)
- 1988: Mechelen 3-1 PSV Eindhoven (aggregate)
- 1987: Porto 2-0 Ajax (aggregate)
- 1986: Steaua Bucharest 1-0 Dynamo Kiev
- 1984: Juventus 2-0 Liverpool
- 1983: Aberdeen 2-0 Hamburg (aggregate)
- 1982: Aston Villa 3-1 Barcelona (aggregate)
- 1980: Valencia 2-2 Nottingham Forest (away goals win)
- 1979: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Barcelona (aggregate)
- 1978: Anderlecht 4-3 Liverpool (aggregate)
- 1977: Liverpool 7-1 Hamburg (aggregate)
- 1976: Anderlecht 5-3 Bayern Munich (aggregate)
- 1975: Dynamo Kiev 3-0 Bayern Munich (aggregate)
- 1974: Ajax 6-1 Milan (aggregate)
