LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
O n behalf of FC Barcelona , I can say that it is a source of great pride to come back to the United States for the third consecutive summer for the pre-season of the men ’ s first team . This is a source of pride and also a commitment to the many thousands of fans we have in a country where Barça feels loved and respected .
In fact , this summer will mark the sixteenth visit by our Club to the United States . It falls to us to preserve the memory of Barça ’ s first visit in 1937 . At that time , in the midst of the Spanish Civil War , FC Barcelona was invited to Mexico and the United States to play a series of friendly matches where we presented ourselves as an ambassador for democracy , freedom and the principles of legality in the Spanish Republic . That tour was crucial for the Club ’ s survival , and at the same time it reinforced the slogan “ More than a club ”, which we feel does an excellent job of expressing who we are .
And the fact is that at FC Barcelona , beyond being the largest multi-sport club in the world , with 48 European Cups in all our professional sports , we stand out for unique characteristics that we will never give up . These include our ownership model , which keeps the Club in the hands of only FC Barcelona members ; our Catalan roots ; and our culture , which is always open to the world and has turned us into an entity that serves as a meeting point for different people , cultures and countries .
Additionally , in recent years , FC Barcelona has sought to help transform the world through sporting excellence , knowledge and innovation . This goal goes beyond sport itself , as it includes our values and our commitment to society . These are some of the traits that set us apart and that have been with us since the Club ’ s founding in 1899 , exactly 125 years ago .
We are a club with a soul , with a Foundation that directly addresses the problems faced by the vulnerable groups we support . This is why we work alongside organisations such as the UNHCR , focusing on refugees , especially children and youth refugees , and displaced people in countries around the world . We want to be direct participants and actors in this work while contributing our expertise , which is based on the idea that sport can be an instrument of change . As evidence of this commitment , I am pleased to announce that the Barça Foundation Genuine team will also be travelling to the United States , specifically to Houston , to compete in the “ Genuine World Cup ” with teams from all over the world .
In the United States , FC Barcelona feels at home , not only because of our historical ties , but also because of the following that has taken root there . Barça can point to fourteen supporters ’ clubs--in San Diego , Los Angeles , Pasadena , Las Vegas , Fresno , San Francisco , Austin , Dallas , Houston , Miami , Charlotte , Washington , Hoboken and New York--as well as seven academies in Casa Grande ( Arizona ), Chicago , Columbus , Austin , Miami , New York and the Carolinas , plus the more than forty camps we hold throughout the United States .
This summer , we will be on the east coast to hold different institutional and social activities and take part in the Soccer Champions Tour 2024 . This is a friendly tournament backed by Sixth Street , in collaboration with Legends and AEG , and that this year is being held for the second time . Our team will play three exhibition matches against Manchester City , in Orlando ; against Real Madrid , at Metlife Stadium in the state of New Jersey , where the 2026 World Cup final will be held ; and against AC Milan , in Baltimore . These will undoubtedly be a great spectacle for football lovers and especially for Barça fans who will get a first look at the progress made by this season ’ s team , led by our new coach Hansi Flick . It will , without a doubt , be the first step in a great adventure shared by millions of “ culers ” and that we are starting in the United States . With pride and responsibility .
Long live Barça !
Joan Laporta i Estruch
PRESIDENT OF FC BARCELONA
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