Why is Inter Milan vs AC Milan being played in Saudi Arabia and what TV channel is it on?

A Milan derby will decide where the Supercoppa Italiana spends 2025, as Inter and AC go head-to-head.

But the game will take place more than 4000 miles from the clubs' San Siro home, at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - as part of a long-running drive to expand interest in Italian football to international audiences. The tournament comprises four clubs, the the winners and runners-up of the previous season's Serie A and Coppa Italia in a straight knockout format.

The first semi-final saw Inter Milan 2-0 winners against Atalanta thanks to a brace from Dutch international Denzel Dumfries, before two goals in four second-half minutes secured AC Milan's place in the final showcase - as they defeated Juventus 2-1, with ex-Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic on target. That sets up a Milan derby showdown to decide who claims the silverware, which has been won eight times by the Nerazzurri and seven times by their city rivals the Rossoneri.

The final of the Supercoppa Italiana is played on Monday January 6 with kick-off at 7pm UK time.

Saudi Arabia is becoming a hub for major sporting events as the oil-rich Gulf nation looks to drive tourism into the country. The Supercoppa Italiana first came to Saudi Arabia in 2018 as part of a campaign to bring Serie A football to a wider audience - and this year's final will be the sixth played in Riyadh, with it now an accepted part of the Italian football calendar.

The tournament was one of the first to be taken outside of its home country, albeit when it was only played as a one off match. The first overseas final took place in Beijing in 2009, with the Chinese capital also playing host to the final in 2011 and 2012. It returned to home shores in Rome for 2013,