Rafael Nogueira
Supercopa de España Ditches Extra Time for Penalty Shootouts
The Supercopa de España 2026 will once again enforce a rule change first introduced in 2024 – no extra time. Matches tied after 90 minutes will proceed directly to a penalty shootout, a decision the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) made permanent last October.
This adjustment, though unused in the 2025 edition – where all games were decided in regulation – removes the 30-minute overtime period entirely. The move aligns with broader efforts to reduce player workload, mirroring changes in other competitions like the Copa del Rey and Copa Federación, as well as trends in European and global tournaments.
Extra Time’s Brief Return in Recent Editions
The last time extra time played a role in the men’s Supercopa was in 2024, when Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid required the additional half-hour. The 2023 edition saw two overtime periods: Real Madrid vs. Valencia and Real Betis vs. FC Barcelona. The women’s competition also saw its share of extended play, with FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in 2023 and Atlético de Madrid vs. Levante UD in 2024 both needing extra time to settle the score.
The RFEF’s decision reflects a direct response to club demands. In their official statement, the federation emphasized the goal of minimizing fixture congestion for players – a priority echoed across modern football.
“This modification addresses the requests of participating clubs and aims to reduce competition minutes for players, consistent with measures already implemented in the Copa del Rey and Copa Federación, and in line with developments in similar competitions worldwide.” – RFEF
Unless the RFEF reverses course, extra time in the Supercopa de España is now a relic of the past. For teams, the message is clear: 90 minutes to decide – or face the lottery of penalties.