23.07.2025 21:44

FC Barcelona has unexpectedly canceled a significant portion of its planned preseason Asian tour. The club issued a formal statement late Wednesday explaining the abrupt decision. This announcement, a shock to many fans, cited a severe breach of contract by the Japanese tour promoter as the reason for the cancellation of the match scheduled for next Sunday.

Despite this setback in Japan, FC Barcelona remains open to the possibility of proceeding with the South Korean leg of their tour. The club's statement indicated a conditional resumption of the matches against FC Seoul and Daegu FC, contingent on the Korean promoter fulfilling specific, undisclosed requirements. Should these conditions be met, the team will travel to South Korea in the near future. The club expressed regret for the disruption and the disappointment it would cause their considerable fanbase in Japan.

While some might speculate that the cancellation of a single friendly match would be detrimental to Barcelona's preparations, head coach Hansi Flick reportedly welcomes the change. According to sources within the Catalan newspaper SPORT, Flick reacted positively to the news, believing that the altered schedule will facilitate a more structured and controlled preseason training regimen. This revised approach allows for a more focused preparation for the upcoming 2025/2026 season, eliminating the need for a rushed trip to Japan.

Following the recent addition of Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan, Barcelona will intensify training at the Joan Gamper CT. The club will await updates on the South Korean leg of the tour, and their training schedule in Barcelona, originally planned to include immediate departure for Kobe, now continues uninterrupted. Thursday morning's training session at the Gamper CT will proceed as planned, replacing the anticipated flight to Japan to face Vissel Kobe.