Barcelona Eyes Spain World Cup Qualifiers: Local Support, National Pride, and a City on the Pitch

In Barcelona, the city’s administration, led by Mayor Jaume Collboni, gave a nod to Vox’s request to open talks with the Royal Spanish Football Federation about the possibility of the Catalan capital hosting qualifying matches for the Spain men’s national team as part of the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The city’s sports counselor, a socialist, David Escudé, voiced support for the idea in broad terms, signaling political willingness to bring a major football event closer to Catalonia. This stance aims to spark local engagement and bolster a sense of regional pride by linking the city to Spain’s national team ambitions, even as concrete scheduling details remain to be navigated. This information comes in the wake of Vox’s briefing on the topic and its implications for the region’s sports landscape.