Global Fútbol

ElClasico, the biggest club football match in the world, returned in style transporting the excitement and passion of LaLiga to football fans all over the world. 

On the pitch, the long-awaited clash between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona didn’t disappoint. Both sides came into the encounter unbeaten in domestic competition and level on points at the top of the league table, but it was the reigning LaLiga Santander and European champions who ran out 3-1 winners in a thrilling encounter.

Looking beyond the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where the match was played, thousands of football fans across the world enjoyed the drama at a host of public viewings, watch parties and promotional events organized by LaLiga in over 50 countries across five continents, many including global and local partners. Over 10,000 fans attended in-person events on matchday, while thousands more took part in activations throughout the week such as special exhibitions, fan tournaments and social media competitions, building up the sense of excitement in the days leading up the match. 

From Europe to Asia, Africa, North and South America and Australia, the global reach of ElClasico and LaLiga football was clear to see throughout the weekend. A large-scale watch party featuring former FC Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert attracted thousands of Indian fans in Mumbai alone. Many more fans, including supporter groups from both sides of the ElClasico divide, enjoyed the action at watch parties in Brazil, Argentina, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and Thailand, among others. 

In the Middle East, LaLiga announced a brand-new local partnership with Ingot Brokers at a special match event in the Jordanian capital Amman and Real Madrid and FC Barcelona legend Luis Figo, while thousands of LaLiga afficionados and supporter groups from both sides packed into watch parties across the region, from Egypt and Qatar to Turkey, Morocco, and Algeria, to enjoy the action. 

ElClasico also left a visual mark on some of the most iconic settings in the world. A special ElClasico brand activation took over New York City’s Times Square, for example, in an activation in collaboration with LaLiga’s US broadcaster ESPN, as well as starring at the LA Live complex in downtown Los Angeles out on West Coast.