More Than a Club, More Than a Game: FC Barcelona, Kurdistan, and the Hope League
On May 19, 2025, FC Barcelona officially announced the launch of the “Hope League”: a new initiative comprising six grassroots football schools across Kurdish-majority areas in Syria and Iraq.
This move merges football with humanitarian outreach, offering structured training and safe community spaces to children in areas historically affected by conflict. Framed as a peace-building program focused on inclusion and resilience. The project further reflects the club’s deeper connection to the region where their support is widespread and culturally embedded.
Led by former Barça defender Oleguer Presas, the initiative has drawn attention not only for its social goals but also for how it positions the club within global narratives of identity, soft power, and sport-driven diplomacy.
The Project: Six Schools, Several Meanings
Announced in May 2025 through the Barça Foundation, NOVACT and La Caserna, the Hope League will establish football schools in Kobane, Hasakah, Raqqa, and Tirbespiye in northeast Syria, and Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan. These regions were deliberately chosen for their deep-rooted football culture and the unique passion they hold for the sport. In particular, FC Barcelona enjoys exceptional popularity in these areas, making them natural and meaningful sites for the club’s latest initiative.
In Iraq, and particularly in the Kurdistan Region, FC Barcelona enjoys one of its largest followings outside Spain. The club has officially recognized two penyes (supporters’ clubs): one in Karbala with over 1,000 members, and another in Kirkuk. In Erbil and other cities, Barça jerseys are commonplace, and shops are named after the club’s stars. From murals of Lionel Messi to children named “Iniesta” and “Xavi,” the cultural imprint is visible.
Around the same time, Real Madrid announced its own youth academy in Erbil. While both projects operate in the same geography, they appear to serve different strategic purposes. Real Madrid’s move could be seen as an effort to strengthen its commercial presence in the broader Middle Eastern football market. FC Barcelona’s initiative, on the other hand, may be interpreted as a deeper cultural engagement, one that aligns with longstanding connections to communities that have shown fervent support for the club.
Let’s explore this distinction further.
More Than a Club – Identity and Cultural History
FC Barcelona’s identity as “Més que un club” (More than a club) stems from its longstanding commitment to community engagement, cultural expression, and social responsibility. Over decades, it has supported civic causes, promoted inclusive education programs, and aligned itself with organizations advocating for youth development and equality.
The club has often played a role beyond sport, and this latest initiative in the Kurdish-majority regions reflects that ongoing commitment. The Hope League isn’t framed as a political statement, but it does carry an undertone of solidarity and empowerment, particularly in areas affected by conflict or displacement.
According to FC Barcelona’s official announcement, “The main goal is to promote social cohesion and prevent future violent conflicts and radicalization processes among new generations —with special attention to the sons and daughters of victims of the Islamic State— through community football schools that promote a culture of peace, dialogue, and coexistence.”
The club further states that the initiative “seeks to counteract narratives of hatred and violence before they take root, offering positive alternatives for identity and belonging,” placing strong emphasis on the empowerment of children and adolescents, especially girls and those from marginalized communities, such as displaced or refugee populations, rural residents, and ethnic minorities.
Catalonia and Kurdistan: Complex Identities, Shared Aspirations
Though separated by geography and history, Catalonia and Kurdistan are often compared in media and public discourse due to their distinct regional identities and aspirations for cultural recognition. Both have rich linguistic and artistic traditions, as well as populations with strong connections to regional heritage. Supporters have occasionally drawn parallels between the two, including a notable moment when a banner at Camp Nou read, “Kurdistan is not Iraq, Catalonia is not Spain.”
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While such messages reflect personal or group expressions, FC Barcelona as an institution does not officially take political stances on regional autonomy or self-determination. The Hope League project avoids political framing and instead focuses on using football as a means of social development, education, and local empowerment.
The Presas Effect: A Symbolic Return
Oleguer Presas, a former Barcelona defender known for his strong views on social issues, is leading the Hope League on the ground. During his playing days, Presas was recognized for his engagement with topics such as justice, identity, and civic rights.
He once declined a call-up to the Spanish national team due to personal convictions. After retiring, he became involved in various social and educational causes and was also affiliated with CUP, a left-wing pro-independence political party in Catalonia, reflecting his continued engagement with civic and ideological issues.
Presas’s involvement lends symbolic weight to the initiative. His return to the club in a developmental role focused on post-conflict regions resonates with his reputation as a thoughtful and principled figure. It also creates a connection between Barcelona’s historical values and its current community-oriented ambitions.
Where Barcelona Sees Itself
With the Hope League, FC Barcelona is not just delivering football training—it is reaffirming its role as a global institution that leverages sport for societal benefit. The club is investing in relationships with communities that have shown long-standing support, and in doing so, it is expanding its presence not only geographically but culturally.
In an era when some clubs align with state-backed entities or focus on commercial expansion, Barça is charting a course centered on community engagement. It’s a model rooted in shared passion and mutual respect.
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The Role of Football in Shaping Futures
Can football operate in a purely apolitical space? Perhaps not entirely. But initiatives like the Hope League demonstrate how sport can be used constructively without inflaming divisions. In choosing to build schools in areas where its fan base is both passionate and underserved, Barcelona shows that football can be both meaningful and measured.
These schools may one day produce professional athletes. But even more importantly, they aim to produce confident, empowered and connected young people equipped to build peaceful futures.
In that sense, the Hope League is not only about young players chasing a ball. It’s about a club meeting its supporters where they are—and helping them build where they dream to go.
By: Sukhman Singh / @5ukhman5ingh
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Soccrates Images / Getty Images