Los 40 USA
NewslettersSign in to commentAPP
spainSPAINchileCHILEcolombiaCOLOMBIAusaUSAmexicoMEXICOlatin usaLATIN USAamericaAMERICA

Kings League

Gerard Piqué's Kings League final packs out Camp Nou

More than 90,000 fans packed into the FC Barcelona stadium with more than half a million following the action unfold online.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 26: 92,522 spectators attend the Final Four of the Kings League Tournament 2023 at Spotify Camp Nou on March 26, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Cesc Maymo/WireImage)
Cesc MaymoGetty

Twitch star Ibai Llanos and former FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué saw their dream fulfilled after 92,000 fans packed into the Camp Nou on Sunday for the final four of the Kings League (seven a side football competition).

Full screen

Neymar will have a team in the next edition of the Kings League after the Brazilian player ‘kidnapped’ Piqué hours before the final and demanded that in order to secure his release the PSG striker would oversee a team in the competition that Piqué is also planning on taking to Brazil. The striker ‘released’ the former Barça player when he gave in to his demand, and Neymar becomes the second owner of a Kings League team after confirmation that Ronaldinho will also participate.

With the stands full half an hour before the event began, the team presidents, including Piqué, arrived at the Camp Nou in a black helicopter.

NFL style entertainment

In true Super Bowl style model, the time-outs between the games were used for different musical performances with Argentinians Lali Espósito and Tiago PZK stealing the show. Piqué was joined by Barça team-mates such as David Villa, Kun Agüero and Ronaldinho with Barcelona president Joan Laporta also making an appearance.

Tiago PZK
Full screen
Tiago PZKMarta PerezEFE

The Kings League features rules that differ from traditional football regulations with the aim of adding an element of dynamism and entertainment to the games, such as a tie-breaker penalty shootout, unlimited substitutions, and the implementation of special “secret weapons’. The heavy influence of social media stars has been instrumental in the competitions incredible success.