Level Up Your Riyadh Game at The Italian Super Cup

Riyadh has become a city that never sleeps. Rising fast, fueled by innovation and transformation, global football momentum, and a magnetic cultural scene that gets better every season, Riyadh is the place to be. And with the Italian Super Cup 2026 landing here from the 18^th to 22^nd of December for its sixth edition, you’re stepping straight into one of the most exciting weeks of the year. The football will be epic, the city is buzzing, and your trip has all the potential to be unforgettable.

Your Italian Super Cup ticket is the golden ticket to levelling up your travel game. It's an invitation to experience everything from exhilarating football nights under the lights of Alawwal Park to the magic of Riyadh Season, heritage and culture, incredible food, futuristic cityscapes, and thrilling adventures.

Come watch the beautiful game and stay for so much more! Are you ready to unlock an unforgettable journey? Let's build the ultimate playthrough of your trip.

LEVEL 1: Master the Game: Conquer the Italian Super Cup

Italian football fans, clear your calendars from the 18^th to 22^nd of December. Riyadh is hosting three match nights, each bringing top-tier Italian clubs onto the pitch under the Saudi winter sky. The atmosphere is electric, the stakes are high, and the venue is set: Alawwal Park Stadium. 

The first game will see Napoli take on AC Milan in a fast, intense opener where Napoli’s explosive play will meet Milan’s disciplined, heritage-driven style, setting the tone for the whole tournament and giving fans the perfect moment to capture the crowd’s energy at kickoff. The second game brings Bologna’s fearless ambition against Inter’s depth and big-match confidence, and the final brings together the two winners for an epic showdown.

Below is your full match schedule with times, so you can plan your evenings perfectly:

Achievement Unlocked: Pick up a program or souvenir to mark the match night. The memory will never fade.

Quick Tip: Come 90-120 minutes before kick-off. Riyadh comes alive at night and is bustling.

LEVEL 2: Beyond the Pitch: Riyadh’s Football Phenomenon

Riyadh is now at the center of global football conversations. Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, the city’s football scene has transformed. Superstar signings from across the globe have followed, stadium attendance has spiked, and local fans have embraced this new era with huge passion. Saudi is a football loving nation, and it’s a core part of fans’ identity.

Achievement Unlocked: Browse a club store, learn a local chant, or watch a highlight reel from the Saudi Pro League, and you’ll be plugged straight into Riyadh’s football culture.

Quick Tip: Check the Saudi Pro League schedule before you fly. If Al-Nassr or Al-Hilal are playing, it’s an easy way to experience local football passion up close and see some of your favorite international players.

LEVEL 3: Become a Culture Vulture

Before Riyadh became a modern capital, it was a historic seat of power forged in places you can still walk today. Start with Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi state, where the UNESCO World Heritage listed At-Turaif district preserves ancient mud-brick palaces and winding alleyways.

Continue to Masmak Palace, a key site in Saudi unification, then head to Souq Al-Zal for antiques, textiles, incense burners, carpets, and traditional crafts. For a deeper dive, the National Museum brings Saudi history to life with beautifully curated galleries. Then relax at Bujairi Terrace overlooking the historic district. There you’ll experience great food, great views, and a smooth shift from heritage to modern Riyadh.

Achievement Unlocked: Discover three new insights about Saudi history as you walk through Diriyah or explore Masmak Palace. They will shape how you see the city.

Quick Tip: The National Museum is at its quietest in the early afternoon, great for slow, uninterrupted exploration.

LEVEL 4: Taste Riyadh’s Culinary Delights

Riyadh’s food scene is one of its biggest surprises. Expect traditional flavors alongside world-class international dining. There is something for every palette and every budget. Foodies, you’re going to love it!

For those wanting to continue the Italian theme beyond the pitch, Riyadh’s Italian dining scene offers exquisite options across fine dining, contemporary, and casual categories. For an upscale experience, restaurants like Cipriani Riyadh and San Carlo Cicchetti are known for their luxury ambience and expertly crafted dishes. The city also features stylish modern spots, such as La Rustica, offering authentic Napoletana pizza, and so many more.

Local must-tries: Kabsa - a beloved Saudi dish made with spiced rice and meat, often chicken or lamb, seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices such as cloves, cardamom, and cumin, offering a rich and flavorful taste, Jareesh, Margoog.
Traditional experience: Najd Village.
Modern Saudi flair: Suhail, Takya.
International: Japanese, Indian, Chinese, French, American, and more!

During Riyadh Season, themed pop-ups and festival kitchens add even more to explore.

Achievement Unlocked: Pick one dish you’ve never tried before. Easy win.

Quick Tip: Riyadh’s best restaurants get busy after 8 PM, especially Thursday-Saturday. Book ahead or arrive early.

LEVEL 5: Embrace Adventure with Riyadh Season and Urban Thrills

You have arrived just in time to enjoy Riyadh Season, Saudi’s biggest entertainment festival, running across multiple zones through winter, including the Super Cup week.

These are your go-to spots:

• BLVD World

Expect lanterns, shows, performances, and restaurants that bring each “world” to life. Nights are colorful, busy, and full of surprises. A full universe of themed streets inspired by global cultures.

Discover nights filled with surprises, captivating shows, dynamic performances, and themed restaurants that bring each unique 'world' to life. Journey through streets inspired by global cultures including Italy, France, Greece, Japan, US, Spain, and this year introducing a great new Africa zone and the highly anticipated “Beast Land”, inspired by the world-famous challenges of MrBeast, where adventure, competition, and entertainment collide.

• BLVD Riyadh City

The biggest and most energetic Riyadh Season zone. Concerts, street shows, stunt acts, e-sports arenas, dining, live music stages, and entertainment everywhere you turn. Fans often head here right after the match.

• Via Riyadh

If you prefer a calmer evening, and your budget allows, this high-end district brings luxury boutiques, rooftop lounges, premium cinemas, and fine dining in a beautifully designed environment, inspired by Salmani architectural design.

• KAFD — King Abdullah Financial District

Riyadh’s futuristic side. Think dramatic skyscrapers, glowing walkways, water features, and modern restaurants. Perfect for a slow evening stroll or skyline photos.

• The Groves

A seasonal, nature-inspired zone offering intimate outdoor dining, music, and themed gardens. Soft, relaxed, atmospheric that is ideal for a slower night between matchdays.

Achievement Unlocked: Experience one Riyadh Season zone after dark, from BLVD World’s global streets to BLVD City’s live shows and make it part of your match week story.

Quick Tip: BLVD World and BLVD City involve a lot of walking. Comfortable shoes will save you by the second zone.

LEVEL 6: Saudi’s Football Boom, From Local Passion to Global Ambition

Saudi lives and breathes football. The country has taken that love and turned it into a national mission, building a world-class league, attracting global stars, and hosting major tournaments.

Ronaldo arriving was one spark, but the wave that followed was dynamite! Benzema, Neymar, Kanté, Mané, Mahrez, Firmino, Koulibaly, Milinković-Savić, Fabinho, Mendy, Brozović, Jota, some of the biggest names in football are now part of the Saudi Pro League. Stadiums are louder, rivalries are sharper, and fan culture has exploded with even more fans, chants, and celebrations.

Saudi now regularly hosts top tournaments as well as the Italian Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup, major boxing events, WWE UFC, and Formula E to name a few. All this momentum adds to excitement and anticipation for Saudi’s greatest football milestone the hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. That event is firmly on the horizon, and Saudis cannot wait to host the event and welcome its international visitors!

You’ll feel that excitement across the city. Riyadh today feels like a city ready for something big, and that’s because it is!

Achievement Unlocked: Spot a poster featuring one of the league’s new stars or an upcoming sporting event,event; they’re everywhere across Riyadh.

Quick Tip: Watch out for the dynamic urban development and new infrastructure projects in Riyadh. They show just how the city is preparing to be an awesome host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

LEVEL 7: Master Cultural Customs to Connect with Confidence

Riyadh is warm and welcoming. Take some time to do a little research of Saudi culture and customs. Cultural awareness goes a long way, and learning a little Arabic goes even further.

Here are a few basic phrases to start you off:

•  Marhaba - Hello
• Maa’ salama - Goodbye
•  Shukran - Thank you

Saudi hospitality ocften comes in the form of Arabic coffee and dates. Enjoy them with pleasure. They are delicious as well as being a sign of welcome and warmth.

Achievement Unlocked: Use two or three Arabic phrases during your trip. You’ll be surprised how many smiles it creates.

Quick Tip: Saudi offers a selection of dates from every region of the country. They are available from small corner shops and supermarkets and high-end eateries like Bateel, and make a great gift to take back home.

Your Italian Super Cup Journey Starts Here

Transform your Italian Super Cup trip into a full Riyadh adventure from start to finish.

Three nights of top Italian football. A city rising with ambition. Riyadh Season lighting up the evenings. culture, heritage, food, and entertainment at every turn. Leveling up your travel game in Riyadh is a no brainer!