Egyptian giants Al Ahly are on the verge of making history after reportedly being selected as Barcelona’s opponents for the 2026 Joan Gamper Trophy.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have reached an agreement with the African champions to stage the prestigious preseason fixture at the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou on August 19.
If officially confirmed by the Spanish club, Al Ahly will become the first African side to participate in the Joan Gamper Trophy since the competition was introduced in 1966.
The annual fixture serves as Barcelona’s traditional presentation of their first-team squad ahead of a new season and has been played as a single-match event since adopting its current format in 1997.
For Al Ahly, the match would provide another opportunity to showcase African club football on one of the biggest stages, with the Cairo-based club widely regarded as the most successful team on the continent following numerous CAF Champions League triumphs.
The friendly is also expected to benefit Barcelona commercially, with reports suggesting the Catalan club views the fixture as an opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Egyptian market, home to more than 110 million people.
