Seoul: The upcoming South Korean trip by the Spanish football giants FC Barcelona will not be affected by the club's cancellation of their preseason match in Japan, the event's promoter announced Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, D-Drive, the promoter, stated that Barca's visit to South Korea will "proceed as scheduled," despite the club's announcement of suspending their match against the Japanese side Vissel Kobe due to "serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter."
Barca is set to face FC Seoul at 8 p.m. next Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium, followed by a match against Daegu FC at 8 p.m. on August 4 at Daegu Stadium in the city of Daegu. D-Drive emphasized their commitment to ensuring the event's success, noting that preparations are nearly complete, and coordination with relevant parties is ongoing.
D-Drive has accused its Japanese co-promoter, Yasuda Group, of submitting invalid documents and failing to meet payment deadlines for the Japan match. The South Korean firm plans to take legal action against Yasuda Group for compensation.
Earlier Thursday, FC Barcelona, the 28-time La Liga champions, indicated that they might "consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea" if certain promoter conditions are not met. However, if all goes as planned, this will mark FC Barcelona's first visit to South Korea since 2010.
Tickets for the Seoul leg were in high demand, selling out within 40 minutes on June 25. Genesis BBQ, the sponsor for the Seoul match, purchased 30,000 tickets for distribution among customers and shop owners, with 34,000 tickets available for online purchase.
FC Barcelona, known for its success, achieved a domestic treble in the 2024-2025 season, including the league title, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup. Their squad features notable players such as Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha, with Marcus Rashford recently joining on loan from Manchester United.