The men’s first team return to Asia for preseason in 2025/26 six years after their last preseason tour in the region. Hansi Flick’s team will start their preparations for the upcoming season with a tour that will take them to Japan and South Korea to face Vissel Kobe on July 27, FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4.
The blaugrana party will head first to Japan for a game against Vissel Kobe (7pm local time, 12pm CEST,) that will be played in the Noevir Kobe Stadium which has a capacity of 30,000 people. The game will mark the third game between both teams: in 2019 the blaugranes won 2-0 during their last preseason tour of the region and in 2023 the two sides met in a friendly in June that also ended in a 2-0 win for Barça. The game in Kobe will be Barça’s 19th visit in Japan, including official and friendly fixtures.
Two days after their opening fixture of the tour, Hansi Flick’s team will fly to South Korea to face teams from the K-League 1. First one will come on July 31 against FC Seoul (8pm local time, 1pm CEST) at the Seoul World Cup stadium The tour will come to an end on 4 August with a game against Daegu FC (8pm local time, 1pm CEST) that will be played at the Daegu Stadium, after which the blaugranes will head back to Barcelona.
Important institutional presence
The Blaugrana Tour, Asia Edition by Philips Ambilight TV, will be the seventh tour to the region by FC Barcelona and there will be a strong institutional presence led by president Joan Laporta and members of the Board of Directors. Aside from the three games there will be institutional, social and commercial events to reinforce Barça’s presence in the Asia-Pacific area, a strategic market for the Club with a fan base of around 59 million on social media.
In Japan Barça boasts 3.6 million fans according to a study by GWI, as well as sponsorship agreements with local brands such as Konami and Canon Medical and a solid connection to local fans through the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Club in Tokyo. Also, currently, there are six Barça Academies in Japan.
In South Korea, where Barça has 2.3 million fans, FC Barcelona has maintained strong bonds with well-known commercial partners from South Korea such as the lubricant company ZIC and car battery company Sebang. Barça’s style of play has reached South Korea through the training camps organised by Barça Academy in various cities in the country and the Club also receives support from the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Club in Seoul.
Friday 25 July
12.00pm CEST FC Barcelona charter flight E9916 leaves for Kansai.
Saturday 26 July (provisional)
7.10am FC Barcelona arrive at Kansai – Osaka airport and transfer to Kobe.
9.30am Event with Catalan Tourist Board at Hotel Kobe Portopia, Kobe
10.00am Training session at Noevir Kobe Stadium.
4.30pm Reception with Supporters’ Clubs FC Barcelona Japan and Penya Blaugrana Shangai at Hotel Kobe Portopia, Kobe
19.30 h Institucional event – Vissel Kobe 30th Anniversary Charity Match Gala Party at Hotel Kobe Portopia, Kobe
Sunday 27 July
7.00pm Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona at Noevir Kobe Stadium.
Monday 28 July
10.00am Training session at Noevir Kobe Stadium.
Tuesday 29 July
10.45am FC Barcelona charter flight KE9736 to Seoul.
12.40pm Arrival at Incheon airport (Seoul).
6.30pm Training session at Goyang Stadium
Wednesday 30July
6.30pm Training session at Goyang Stadium
Thursday 31 July
8.00pm FC Seoul v FC Barcelona at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Friday 1 August
10.00am Training session at Paju National Football Center.
Saturday 2 August
10.00am Training session at Paju National Football Center.
4.30pm Reception with Supporters’ Clubs Penya Barcelonista de Seoul and Penya Blaugrana Shangai at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
6.30pm Training session at Paju National Football Center.
8.30pm Institutional reception: Seoul Big Gala Party al Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Sunday 3 August
6.30pm Training session at Paju National Football Center.
Monday 4 August
10.45am FC Barcelona charter flight KE1331 to Daegu.
11.50am Arrival in Daegu.
8.00pm Daegu FC v FC Barcelona at Daegu iM Bank Park Stadium
Tuesday 5 August
3.30am FC Barcelona charter flight KE9915 to Barcelona.
10.40am CEST Arrival at Barcelona airport.
*All times local except where stated
*Training schedule may vary
AloJapan.com