Barcelona will travel to Japan after all: issues surrounding friendly match resolved

Barcelona were set to receive a reported fifteen million euros for participating in their highly anticipated preseason tour of Asia, a trip that was expected to be both financially beneficial and strategically important as the club prepares for the 2025–26 La Liga season under new head coach Hansi Flick.

However, the tour was briefly thrown into uncertainty due to financial disputes behind the scenes, with tensions escalating just days before the team was scheduled to fly out.

As of Thursday morning, Barcelona had only received a portion of the agreed payment. The delay triggered alarm within the club’s upper management, especially considering the recent financial struggles that have plagued the Catalan giants in recent years. The money from this tour was seen as essential not only for balancing short-term cash flow but also for justifying the commercial and sporting commitments involved in traveling across Asia during a condensed preseason.

The club had originally planned to cancel the Japanese leg of the tour, including the high-profile friendly against Vissel Kobe. This decision was nearly finalized after internal talks concluded that the event organizers had breached the contractual terms. Barcelona were hesitant to board a plane without guarantees that the full amount would be paid, and communication between all parties intensified.

In the middle of the dispute was D-Drive, the South Korean company overseeing the logistics and promotion of Barcelona's Asia tour. In an official statement, D-Drive pointed fingers at the Japanese-based Yasuda Group, which had been subcontracted to handle the organization of the match in Japan. The Yasuda Group, which reportedly also maintains commercial ties with Real Sociedad, had allegedly failed to fulfill its financial obligations to both Barcelona and the tour organizers. Spanish media reported that the Yasuda Group had repeatedly missed payment deadlines and had not provided the agreed funding needed to secure stadiums, accommodations, and security operations.

With the situation threatening to collapse the entire Japanese segment of the tour and with Barcelona facing reputational and financial losses intervention came in the form of Rakuten, the former main shirt sponsor of the Catalan club and still a strong commercial ally in the Japanese market. Rakuten stepped in at the last moment to ensure that the outstanding amount was covered. The company reportedly transferred the remaining balance to Barcelona, allowing the club to honor its commitment to fans and commercial partners in Asia.

As a result, Hansi Flick and his squad boarded their flight to Japan on Friday morning. The tour is now officially back on track, and Barcelona are set to face long-time partner club Vissel Kobe in a friendly this Sunday. The match is expected to draw a massive crowd, with thousands of fans eager to see the Spanish champions and some of their star players in action on Japanese soil. Vissel Kobe, who have become an important brand partner for Barcelona in recent years, are expected to field a strong team as well, making the fixture a key highlight of the tour.

The tour doesn’t end in Japan. After the Kobe clash, Barcelona will head to South Korea, where they are scheduled to play FC Seoul and Daegu FC. These matches are designed not only to test new tactics and player combinations under Flick’s leadership but also to expand the club’s global reach in one of the fastest-growing football markets in the world.

Among the key names in the traveling squad are Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who returns to action after a long injury spell, and new signing Marcus Rashford, whose arrival from Manchester United has generated massive buzz both in Europe and across Asia. Rashford is expected to make his unofficial debut for the club during this tour, giving fans a first glimpse of how he may fit into Flick’s tactical setup.

This tour marks Hansi Flick’s first extended opportunity to work directly with the full squad, integrate new players, and establish his coaching philosophy. Barcelona see the trip not just as a commercial venture, but as a vital stage in their sporting preparations. The matches will also provide important minutes for younger players hoping to make an impression ahead of a highly competitive La Liga season that will see the club battle to reclaim domestic dominance from rivals such as Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

With Flick aiming to bring fresh ideas and intensity to a squad that struggled for consistency last year, the preseason fixtures will serve as early indicators of tactical shifts, squad depth, and internal competition. All eyes will be on how Barcelona adapt to their new manager’s methods, particularly with a demanding La Liga calendar looming large.

Ultimately, what began as a potential disaster has turned into an opportunity for Barcelona to reconnect with their Asian fanbase, rebuild global trust in their brand, and continue preparations for what many hope will be a return to continental and domestic glory. The club’s ability to quickly resolve the financial issues thanks in large part to Rakuten’s involvement has helped avoid embarrassment and ensured that the tour will proceed as planned.