FC Barcelona has officially announced their return to Asia for the 2025/26 pre-season, marking their first tour in the region in six years. The team, now under the guidance of Hansi Flick, will kick off their preparations for the upcoming season with matches in Japan and South Korea. This tour, branded as “The Blaugrana Tour, Asia Edition, by Philips Ambilight TV,” is organized and promoted by the Korean Company D-DRIVE.Co, with joint promotion by Yasuda Group for the match in Japan.
The tour begins on July 27 against Vissel Kobe at the Noevir Kobe Stadium in Japan. This match is particularly significant as Vissel Kobe was the former club of Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta. Tickets for the game in Kobe are available for purchase through Rakuten Ticket. This game will mark Barça's 19th visit to Japan, including both official and friendly fixtures.
Following the match in Japan, FC Barcelona will head to South Korea for two additional friendlies. On July 31, they will face FC Seoul at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which can accommodate over 66,000 fans. The tour will conclude on August 4 with a game against Daegu FC at the Daegu Stadium, which has a capacity of over 68,000. Both stadiums were venues for the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. The match against FC Seoul is generating considerable excitement, with a unique promotional campaign led by the fast-food chain 'bb.q Chicken,' which will raffle off 30,000 tickets to its customers.
This pre-season tour marks Barcelona's seventh visit to Asia, highlighting the club's strong fanbase and commercial ties in the region. In the past, Barcelona has also visited China, Malaysia, and Thailand for pre-season tours and official competitions.
Before heading to Asia, the team might play a friendly match in Morocco for additional preparation. After the Asian tour, Barcelona will return to Spain to participate in the Joan Gamper Trophy match on August 9, which will serve as a pilot event at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou. The team is scheduled to return to Camp Nou permanently after the international break in September.
The pre-season tour is not just about preparing for the upcoming season; it’s also a strategic move to strengthen Barcelona's global brand and engage with its extensive Asian fanbase. The tour is expected to generate around €10 million for the club, with the match against FC Seoul alone anticipated to be a sold-out event.