Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, expressed his immense pleasure and deep appreciation for the warm welcome and excellent organization he received during his visit to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup. These remarks underscore the growing sporting relationship between Spanish football and the Kingdom, which has become a preferred global destination for major sporting events.
Praise for the infrastructure and global organization
In extensive media statements, Laporta affirmed that the Kingdom has proven its worth and standing on the international sporting map. He said, "Saudi Arabia has firmly established its presence by hosting numerous global sporting events, most notably the Spanish Super Cup. It possesses outstanding sports facilities and infrastructure, and this isn't just my opinion; it's what the team's experts, coaches, and players have told me.".
He added, explaining the technical details that impressed the Catalan delegation: "We found top-class training pitches, and the playing surfaces here are fantastic and very suitable for our style of play. Everything related to the organization was wonderful and outstanding. We are completely satisfied and happy to be here; it is essential for any team traveling to compete strongly to find high-quality facilities, and this is what we have found on the ground, so thank you to all the organizers in the Kingdom for everything they provide us.".
Saudi Arabia, a global sports destination
Laporta's remarks come amidst a major transformation underway in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, where sports have become a cornerstone of development and quality of life. The Kingdom's hosting of events has not been limited to the Spanish Super Cup, but has also included the Italian Super Cup, Formula 1 races, the World's Ferocious Man boxing match, and the Club World Cup, making the endorsement of a Barcelona president a testament to the success of this strategy in attracting global attention.
Support for the 2034 World Cup bid
The president of the Catalan club also addressed the upcoming major event, Saudi Arabia's hosting of the 2034 World Cup, expressing his strong optimism for the tournament's success. Laporta said, "I predict a great success for Saudi Arabia, and I expect a huge turnout because this country is wonderful, very safe, and has outstanding football facilities. It's true that the culture may be different from Europe, but cultural diversity always creates a rich experience, and a World Cup held in this atmosphere will be an exceptional and historic event.".
A broad fan base and endless passion
Laporta also spoke about the passionate Saudi Arabian fans, considered among the most ardent supporters of La Liga in the region. He commented, "The fans here are incredibly passionate about football, and our team has a huge fan base in this country. We saw that clearly in the semi-final match and in previous editions of the tournament. Let me thank our fans here in Saudi Arabia for their tremendous support and warm welcome, and we hope to make them happy by winning the title.".
Laporta concluded his remarks about the upcoming final, noting the difficulty of the competition and Barca's desire to win the cup to please its fans in the Kingdom and around the world, stressing that playing in Saudi Arabia gives the tournament a special and distinctive fan character.
