This is how the Supercopa de España 2026 is shaping up: Barça very close to qualifying

FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Atlético de Madrid advanced to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey this Thursday and, in addition, took a firm step towards the next edition of the Supercopa de España. With the current format of the tournament, which has been held in January since 2020, the two finalists of the Cup are guaranteed their trip to Arabia. Considering the positions in LaLiga at this point in the calendar, the azulgranas, 'merengues', and 'rojiblancos' are well on their way to participating in the Supercopa.

Since the tournament is defined through a 'final four', Barça and Madrid have shared all five of the six titles, with a 3-2 favorable balance to the whites. Madrid won the title in 2020, 2022, and 2024, while Barça did so in 2023 and 2025. Athletic Club, in 2021, took the remaining crown against the azulgrana team (3-2).

The 'lions' also participated in 2022 and 2025, while Real Sociedad was in 2021. Atlético de Madrid, for its part, participated in the editions of 2020, 2022, and 2024, reaching the final in 2020. Valencia (2020 and 2023), Betis (2023), Osasuna (2024), and Mallorca (2025) are the other clubs that have competed in the Supercopa since the format change.

This is how the format of the Supercopa de España works since 2020

With the current format, the four spots in the Supercopa are distributed as follows:

1. The two finalists of the Copa del Rey.
2. The top two teams in La Liga.
3. If a finalist of the Cup repeats as champion or runner-up of La Liga, the third-placed team of the tournament goes.
4. If both Cup finalists finish 1-2 in LaLiga, the third and fourth in the overall table go.

That is why, with Barcelona, Atlético, and Real Madrid in the 'semis' of the Cup, it is very likely that all three will secure their participation in the next edition of the tournament, which has been held in Arabia since 2020 (except for 2021, due to the pandemic). Culés, 'colchoneros', and 'merengues' are currently third, second, and first in LaLiga, with Athletic in fourth place, four points behind the azulgrana team.

In this sense, Real Sociedad is obliged to reach the final of the Cup to secure its spot in the next Supercopa de España. The donostiarras are far from the top positions in LaLiga, as they are currently eleventh, with 28 points (13 less than Athletic). The 'lions', for their part, can secure their trip to Arabia by remaining among the top four in LaLiga if two of the other three Cup semifinalists (Barça, Aleti, and Madrid) advance to the decisive stage.