Barcelona is set to commence its 2025-26 preseason campaign with an anticipated friendly match against Japanese club Vissel Kobe. The fixture, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at Noevir Stadium Kobe, marks the first opportunity for fans to witness Hansi Flick’s squad in action as they prepare for his second season at the helm. The match was briefly in doubt earlier in the week due to payment disputes with promoters, but these issues were swiftly resolved, allowing the game to proceed as planned, much to the relief of supporters. (Sports Illustrated)
Kick-off for the friendly is slated for 11 a.m. BST / 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT. Football enthusiasts globally have various avenues to tune into the action. In the United States, the game will be broadcast on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo. International viewers can access the match via Barcelona’s Culers Premium subscription service, available for €39.99/year (£34.89/year / $46.90/year) on the club’s official website. Additionally, DAZN will be streaming the friendly, with some regions offering free access, and YouTube is also listed as a streaming option in several countries. (Sports Illustrated, VAVEL)
This match is a crucial step for Barcelona as they aim to build on a successful 2024-25 campaign under Flick, where they entered the summer as La Liga champions. The focus for this preseason is on fitness and integrating new talent. The 30-man traveling squad includes recent additions such as goalkeeper Joan García, winger Roony Bardghji, and notably, Marcus Rashford, who will have his first chance to impress in a Barcelona shirt. The tour also provides a platform for promising La Masia starlets like Jofre Torrents, Guille Fernández, Pedro Fernández, Toni Fernández, and Marc Bernal, who has recovered from a long-term knee injury. Marc-André ter Stegen is not part of the squad due to injury. Lamine Yamal, the highly promising 18-year-old winger, is also expected to be a focal point, having emerged as a star for the team last season. (Sports Illustrated, VAVEL, Barca Blaugranes)
Their opponents, Vissel Kobe, are currently enjoying a strong 2025 season, leading the J1 League after 24 games. This mid-season form means they will likely present a challenging test for Barcelona. Key players for the Japanese side include their leading scorer Taisei Miyashiro, who has netted nine league goals, and Brazilian forward Erik. Veteran striker Yuya Osako, 35, also remains a significant figure for the club. Vissel Kobe holds a special connection with FC Barcelona through legendary midfielder Andrés Iniesta, who spent five years with the Japanese club after leaving Camp Nou in 2018 and is now a major investor. (Sports Illustrated, VAVEL)
This will be the third friendly encounter between Vissel Kobe and Barcelona since 2019. Barcelona has emerged victorious in both previous matches, securing 2-0 wins in July 2019 and June 2023. While Vissel Kobe’s superior mid-season fitness could play a role, Barcelona’s overall quality is expected to prevail. Sports Illustrated predicts a 2-1 victory for the Catalan giants. (Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated, VAVEL)
Following the Vissel Kobe friendly, Barcelona’s Asian tour will continue with two matches in South Korea against FC Seoul and Daegu. They will then return to Spain for the Joan Gamper Trophy, where they will face Cesc Fàbregas’ Como, before kicking off their La Liga campaign against Mallorca on August 16. Vissel Kobe, after this high-profile friendly, will have a brief respite before resuming their J1 League commitments, with an Emperor’s Cup match against Toyo University on August 6, followed by a league game against Machida Zelvia four days later. (Sports Illustrated)
