One of the biggest football clubs in the world – FC Barcelona – will travel to Australia for the first time ever next month to battle the A-Leagues All Stars at Sydney Olympic Park’s Accor Stadium.
Boasting a global fan base of 270 million fans and recognised the world over for their iconic blue and garnet colours, La Liga giants FC Barcelona have been one of the most successful clubs in world football for much of their 123-year history.
Backed by Destination NSW and Venues NSW on behalf of the State Government, FC Barcelona’s one-night-only football blockbuster will be held on Wednesday, May 25.
The match will also be an entrée to the A-Leagues Men’s Grand Final during the last week in May and in the same week as football’s prestigious Dolan Warren Awards.
“The FC Barcelona v A-Leagues All Stars match will generate significant international interest and put Australian football back in the international spotlight. It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase both our domestic professional A-Leagues and our beautiful Harbour City to the world,” Minister for Tourism and Sport, Penrith MP Stuart Ayres said.
“Hosting this sporting star power in Sydney will highlight the city’s attractions and world-class events calendar to football fans around the globe, turbocharging the NSW visitor economy on its road to recovery.”
The A-Leagues All Stars return after an eight-year hiatus, bringing together a team of A-League Men’s players to be showcased at Accor Stadium.
Winners of 26 La Liga titles, five European Cups, 31 Copa Del Rey trophies and three FIFA Club World Cups, FC Barcelona have enjoyed sustained success since their inception in 1899.
Known for their attractive tiki-taka attacking style of football, FC Barcelona has been – and still is – home to some of the best footballers in the world.
“We are very happy to announce this match in Australia against the A-Leagues All Stars. This will be the first time the team visits this country, where Barca are generating great interest,” FC Barcelona Vice President Marketing Area, Juli Guiu said.
“Being able to play this match will give us the opportunity to bring the club and its values closer to our fans and will also give us the opportunity for new audiences to get to know FC Barcelona and all that it represents, which has made it a reference entity on and off the pitch.”
The coach and team selection process for the A-Leagues All Stars team will be announced shortly, with ticketing information available at http://www.barcainsydney.com.au.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.