Real Madrid eclipse Barcelona in terms of official USA based supporter groups
The Santiago Bernabéu side have seen a recent increase in the number of official supporters groups Stateside following recent success on the pitch.
As of a few years ago, the number of officially recognised Real Madrid and FC Barcelona USA based supporters clubs were on an even standing in terms of quantity. However, recent success on the pitch coupled with the departure of Lionel Messi and institutional turmoil at the Catalan club has seen the side from the capital move ahead with now 17 official US supporter groups to that of nine for Barça.
Madridistas on East and West coasts
California leads the way with four official Real Madrid ‘peñas’ alone in the Sunshine State: ‘NorCal’, ‘Sur de California, ‘Los Angeles’ and ‘San Francisco Bay Area’. On the East Coast, New York also boasts the presence of three with: ‘Brooklyn’, ‘Empire State’ and ‘NYC Vikingos’.
Barça East Coast presence
Four of the nine official FC Barcelona US based supporter groups can be found on the Eastern side of the country with: ‘Garden City BlauGrana’ in New Jersey, ‘Barcelonistas de Washington DC’, ‘Blaugrana de Charlotte’ and Florida based ‘Barcelonista de Miami-Dade’.
Vegas July ‘El Clasico’
FC Barcelona start their preparation for the 2022-23 season on 4 July and after a few days of light training in the Catalan capital, Barça will then embark on a tour of the United States with four games currently earmarked later in the month of July. The highlight of the tour will be a Stateside Clasico against Real Madrid, with this game set to be played in Las Vegas with the exact date and kick-off time yet to be confirmed. The last time Madrid and Barça played in the United States was back in August 2017 in Miami and despite the Barça win, the game coincided with the day that Neymar confirmed his move to PSG.
The Vegas game will provide a wonderful opportunity for US based Real Madrid and FC Barcelona fan groups to mobilise and get to see both teams at close quarters at the Allegiant stadium in July with a sell out crowd anticipated.