The stage is set in Udine, Italy, for a clash of European champions. Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off their Champions League victory, and Tottenham, the Europa League winners, face off on Wednesday. This special 50th edition of the European Super Cup offers both clubs a chance at a unique piece of history. A Portuguese referee team will oversee the big game.
The action kicks off at 9 PM local time (8 PM in Lisbon) at Friuli Stadium. This match is the first continental trophy up for grabs in the 2025/26 season. João Pinheiro will be the main referee. He’ll get help from Bruno Jesus and Luciano Maia on the lines. Tiago Martins will serve as the fourth official. The video assistant referee (VAR) team includes Azerbaijan’s Elchin Masiyev, Fábio Melo, and the Netherlands’ Pol van Boekel.
For Tottenham, this is their first trip to the Super Cup. They have Portuguese international João Palhinha in their squad, on loan. PSG, on the other hand, knows this stage, but not how to win it. This is their second time here, after a tough loss in 1996 to Juventus. That year, they fell 6-1 at home and 3-1 away, marking the biggest difference in a two-leg Super Cup final. French clubs have never managed to lift this trophy. PSG also boasts a strong Portuguese presence with Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Gonçalo Ramos.
These two clubs bring different European histories to the field. Tottenham has four continental trophies in their cabinet. This includes one Cup Winners’ Cup from 1962/63, two UEFA Cups in 1971/72 and 1983/84, and their recent Europa League title. PSG has a shorter list, with one Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995/96 and their shining new Champions League crown.
PSG’s Quest for More
Paris Saint-Germain, led by Spanish coach Luis Enrique, already has a Super Cup win under his belt from 2015 with Barcelona. PSG comes into this game just a week after starting their pre-season. This follows the revamped Club World Cup final where they suffered their biggest loss of the 2024/25 season. Chelsea beat them 3-0 on July 13 in the United States.
That loss was the only trophy PSG missed out on last season. They are the reigning four-time French champions. They re-established their dominance by winning the national Cup and Super Cup again. Most importantly, they finally clinched their first Champions League title. They hammered Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, Germany. This Champions League win was the main goal for Qatar Sports Investments since they bought the club in 2011.
These back-to-back successes have certainly made PSG’s squad even more valuable. They have nine players among the 30 finalists for the Ballon d’Or award. That list includes Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembélé. Coach Luis Enrique is also one of the five candidates for coach of the season.
However, there’s a cloud hanging over one of their young stars. Reports from the international press suggest João Neves, also nominated for best Under-21 player, might miss the Super Cup. This would be the first of two suspended matches stemming from his red card in the Club World Cup final. FIFA and UEFA have not yet officially announced these suspensions.
PSG has kept most of its core players from last season. They added goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille. There are ongoing talks about renewing Donnarumma’s contract, which seems tricky. They are also close to signing Ukrainian central defender Illya Zabarnyi from English club Bournemouth.
Tottenham’s Rollercoaster Ride
Tottenham has had a much busier transfer window. Despite finishing 17th in the English league, just above the relegation zone, they found glory in Europe. They earned a Champions League spot after three seasons away by winning the Europa League. They beat fellow English side Manchester United, managed by Portugal’s Ruben Amorim, 1-0 in Bilbao, Spain.
João Palhinha, on loan from German giants Bayern Munich, is their latest addition. Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus, formerly of West Ham, also joined. Options to buy Austrian central defender Kevin Danso from Lens and French forward Mathys Tel from Bayern were made permanent. This summer also saw a big departure: South Korean forward and former captain Heung-min Son left after a decade to join Los Angeles FC in the United States.
Tottenham also made a change in the dugout. They promoted Danish coach Thomas Frank, who led Brentford for eight seasons. He steps into the shoes of Australian Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou had a historic run, bringing the Spurs their first trophy in 17 years.
Frank’s team has completed five weeks of preparation. This included an Asian tour. Unfortunately, they lost midfielder James Maddison for several months due to a right knee ligament tear. Thomas Frank is now chasing the first trophy of his coaching career in this Super Cup. Spanish giants Real Madrid won the 2024 edition, holding the record with six Super Cup trophies.
The Stage is Set for History
The European Super Cup has been played every year since 1973. In 29 of the 49 previous editions, the reigning Champions League winners have taken home the trophy. This includes the last six finals. If the score is tied at the end of regular time, the game goes straight to a penalty shootout.
For referee João Pinheiro, this is a huge moment. He was the fourth official in the most recent Champions League final. Now, he will make his debut as the main referee in a continental final. He will also become the fourth Portuguese referee to take charge of a European Super Cup. He follows António Garrido (who refereed the first leg in 1977), José Rosa dos Santos (first leg in 1990), and VÃtor Pereira (in 2001). This promises to be a memorable night for both teams and for the man in the middle.