FC Barcelona is in the final stages of its pre-season preparations, diligently working to secure an additional friendly match in Morocco before the commencement of the new football season. The club has officially announced plans to host a friendly encounter on August 15 in Tangier, where they will face a local team. This announcement highlights the club's commitment to solidifying its pre-season schedule, providing an essential match to enhance player readiness ahead of the competitive fixtures.
In an official statement, Barcelona's Board of Directors conveyed, **"Furthermore, on the sporting side, the Board of Directors are finalising arrangements for a men's first team friendly match on 15 August in Tanger (Morocco) against a local team."** This friendly is strategically placed during the opening weekend of the La Liga season, although Barcelona's initial match against Athletic Club has been postponed due to several players' participation in the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Consequently, the club aims to finalize organizational details to ensure the match can be officially confirmed.
The inclusion of this friendly is viewed as an opportunity to enhance match fitness for the squad. Barcelona's coaching staff, led by Hansi Flick, believes that an additional match will not only improve the players' sharpness but also allow for greater distribution of playing time among senior players and promising academy talents participating in the pre-season preparations. Currently, the team is training at St George's Park in England, where they have already played two friendly matches against Birmingham City and Preston North End.
Following these fixtures, Barcelona will head to Italy on August 8 to engage in the Udine triangular tournament, where they will compete against Udinese and Nottingham Forest. If the Morocco friendly comes to fruition, Tangier will serve as the team’s final stop before returning to Barcelona for the prestigious Joan Gamper Trophy on August 19, where they are scheduled to face Al Ahly.
This proposed friendly aligns seamlessly with Barcelona's broader international strategy, particularly in North Africa, which is home to a substantial supporter base for the club. Establishing and maintaining a strong presence in this region is considered vital for Barcelona's global expansion and commercial growth. Should negotiations conclude successfully in the upcoming days, the team will enhance its pre-season program, fully focusing on the forthcoming competitive campaign.
As reported by sports.yahoo.com.
