Understanding the UEFA Super Cup: Format and History of Europe's Season Opener

The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football match organized by the European football governing body. It marks the start of the new club season by featuring a contest between the previous season's UEFA Champions League winner and the UEFA Europa League champion. This game acts as a kickoff event, traditionally played in mid-August before most European leagues begin their campaigns.

Is the UEFA Super Cup considered a major trophy?

Though it may not carry the same weight as some other European trophies, the UEFA Super Cup is still regarded as a significant prize. Clubs must have won a major European competition to qualify, so lifting the Super Cup remains a coveted achievement for teams across Europe.

2026 UEFA Super Cup participants

The 2026 edition will see Paris Saint-Germain facing off against Aston Villa. PSG secured the Champions League title for the second year running last season and claimed the Super Cup in the previous edition by defeating Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Aston Villa earned their spot by winning the 2025/26 Europa League, marking their first continental trophy since the 2001 Intertoto Cup. This appearance also brings them back to the Super Cup stage for the first time since 1982 when they beat Barcelona over two legs.

Format of the UEFA Super Cup

Since 1998, the Super Cup has been decided in a single match rather than over two legs. Starting with the 2024 edition, if the score is tied after 90 minutes, the game proceeds directly to a penalty shootout without extra time. This change was introduced to reduce strain on players at the season's start.

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)
• 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)