Just days after reports suggested FC Barcelona’s Japan tour was on the brink of cancellation, the club has reversed its decision and is now back on course to play in East Asia—thanks to a last-minute financial intervention by Rakuten Chairman Hiroshi Mikitani.
Barcelona had initially pulled the plug on their scheduled match against Vissel Kobe, citing a serious breach of contract. The cancellation stemmed from allegations that the Japanese event co-organizer, the Yasuda Group, had mishandled the payment structure, reportedly embezzling fees owed to the Spanish club by Rakuten, according to Korea-based tour organizer Didrive.
This abrupt disruption had cast uncertainty over Barcelona’s presence in Japan. However, within hours, Rakuten’s founder Mikitani stepped in to cover the outstanding amount—reportedly around €5 million—reviving the entire leg of the tour.
There was still tension in the air. Barcelona reportedly demanded payment in full before boarding the aircraft to Tokyo, wary of further breaches. Rakuten, on the other hand, insisted the funds would only be transferred once the team had officially departed. After a brief stand-off, Rakuten fulfilled the financial requirement, allowing the tour to proceed.
Barcelona, whose squad includes international stars like Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha, will now play Vissel Kobe on July 27. They will then continue to South Korea to take on FC Seoul on July 31, followed by Daegu FC on August 4.
The episode highlights both the fragility of international pre-season logistics and the continued influence of major corporate stakeholders in shaping top-level football programming. Rakuten previously served as Barcelona’s front-of-shirt sponsor from 2017 to 2022, and this move reaffirms the enduring strength of that relationship—even in a post-sponsorship era.
Interestingly, the Yasuda Group, the firm under scrutiny in this case, remains active in the region. It is also co-hosting the ongoing Japan tours of Real Sociedad and Stade de Reims. As of now, the fixture between Sociedad and Yokohama FC—scheduled for July 25—is still set to go ahead.
This sudden pivot from crisis to resolution offers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes complexity of global football marketing—and how trusted relationships and real-time intervention remain pivotal in the modern sports economy.
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