Al Ahly to meet Barcelona in Joan Gamper Trophy as first Arab and African participants

Egyptian champions Al Ahly have confirmed they will face Barcelona in this year’s Joan Gamper Trophy, becoming the first club from both the Arab world and Africa to be invited to contest the prestigious pre-season fixture.

The Cairo side announced on their official social media channels that an agreement has been finalised for the friendly to be played on 19 August at Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

The match will be staged for the Joan Gamper Trophy, the annual curtain-raiser in which Barcelona present their first team to supporters ahead of the new campaign.

Agreement sealed after Al Ahly delegation visit

Al Ahly said the deal was completed following a short visit to Spain by an official delegation from Al Ahly Football Company, comprising Ahmed Hossam Awad and Naira Ali.

The pair travelled to Barcelona to put what the club described as the “final touches” on the arrangements for the fixture, which will see the record African champions take part in one of European football’s most recognisable pre-season events.

In a statement, Al Ahly explained that arranging the game forms part of a wider strategy by the club’s football company to strengthen the institution’s global profile and build new avenues of cooperation with leading clubs and sports organisations across Europe.

Link strengthened by Hamza Abdelkarim transfer

The announcement follows a recent piece of transfer business between the two clubs, with Barcelona having completed the permanent signing of young forward Hamza Abdelkarim from Al Ahly.

Abdelkarim had spent the second half of last season on loan with Barcelona before the Catalan club decided to exercise the option to make the deal permanent.

Al Ahly pointed to the Joan Gamper meeting as another step in a growing relationship with Barcelona, coming shortly after Abdelkarim’s move was finalised.

Historic invitation for African and Arab football

By taking part in the fixture, Al Ahly will become the first team from either Africa or the Arab region to compete for the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Previous opponents in the competition have been drawn exclusively from European clubs and teams from North and South America.

The Joan Gamper Trophy was first staged in 1966, originally as a four-team tournament, before adopting its current two-team format from the 1997 edition onwards.

Held annually at Barcelona’s home ground, the match serves both as a showpiece introduction of the Barca squad to fans and a key element of the club’s preparations for the upcoming season.

Al Ahly, who are among the most successful clubs in world football in terms of major trophies won, framed the invitation as an opportunity to showcase the team on a prominent European stage while deepening ties with one of the sport’s most high-profile institutions.