What is the Joan Gamper Trophy? History, dates as Barcelona and Tottenham contest cup in 2023 preseason match | Sporting News (2024)

FC Barcelona are set to host the 58th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy, taking place on August 8, 2023 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Founded in 1966, the preseason competition has featured leading teams from around the world matching up against the Spanish giants in what is now an annual summer tradition. Clubs from countries across Europe have paid a visit over the decades, as well as clubs from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is its all-time leading marksman with nine goals, while current Manchester City director of footballTxiki Begiristain and 1994 Ballon d'Or winner Hristo Stoichkov are also among the top scorers in the history of the trophy.

Here are a few facts you need to know about the Joan Gamper Trophy, including the plans for 2023.

MORE:How Barcelona wrapped up their 2023 USA preseason tour

What is the Joan Gamper Trophy?

The Joan Gamper Trophy is a football competition inaugurated by bygone Barcelona president Enric Llaudet in 1966 and held in August before the start of the Spanish season.

It was named after one of the founding members of the club who also played and became president of Barca, and the winner of the match is awarded a silver cup with gold finishing.

The competition featured four teams contesting two semifinals, a third-placed playoff and a final until 1997, when it became a one-off match between two teams.

The change was made because of the demands placed on players and clubs by their increasingly packed schedules. For the same reason, the match goes immediately to penalties if the scores is level after 90 minutes.

Which teams are playing in the Joan Gamper Trophy 2023?

Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur was confirmed as Barcelona's opponent in the 2023 competition, potentially pitting two of the best goalscorers in the world against each other in Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane.

With Bayern Munich awaiting a transfer decision from the England captain, Kane's future at Spurs is in doubt, although he scored four times in his side's 5-1 friendly win at home to Ukrainian visitors Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday.

Lewandowski is likely to feature for Barca, for whom the match will be the final tuneup before they begin their league programme at Getafe on Sunday.

Spurs start their domestic schedule on the same day, when they travel to fellow London club Brentford.

When do Barcelona play Tottenham in the Joan Gamper Trophy?

The game takes place at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, August 8. Here's how the time translate to time zones around the world:

• USA: 2 p.m. ET
• Canada: 2 p.m. ET
• UK: 7 p.m. BST
• Australia: 4 a.m. AEST (Wed, Aug. 9)

Why isn't Barcelona vs Tottenham at the Camp Nou?

In 2023/24 Barcelona won't be playing at the Camp Nou for the first time in 60 seasons because of construction work taking place at their regular home stadium.

Instead, they're playing at the city council-owned Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companysin the Montjuic area of the city. An expanded capacity — from 99,350 to 105,000 — will be among the changes when they return to the Camp Nou.

Who won the Joan Gamper Trophy in 2022?

Barca breezed to victory in 2022, scoring four goals in the first 19 minutes as part of a 6-0 thrashing of Mexican opponents Pumas UNAM.

Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong all scored, as well as two goals in 15 minutes from Pedri.

The victory was the 10th time in succession that Barca have won the game, last conceding a goal in the fixture in 2019.

Joan Gamper Trophy history

German side Koln's five participations make them the team with the most appearances in the trophy game apart from Barcelona.

They are also the only guests to have won the trophy more than once, triumphing in 1978 and 1981 — the year before their most recent appearance.

Tottenham have taken part once before, finishing third behind champions Barca and second-placed PSV Eindhoven in 1986, with Spurs beating AC Milan 2-1 in the consolation match.