Welcome Event in Orlando
The event took place Monday evening at the Isleworth Golf & Country Club, a luxurious area surrounded by lakes near Orlando. It was organized by the promoters of the Soccer Champions Tour as a preview to the Barça vs. Manchester City match scheduled for Tuesday at Camping World Stadium.
The welcome ceremony coincided with the team's second training session in the United States. FC Barcelona was represented by President Joan Laporta and directors Miquel Camps, Xavier Puig, and Joan Soler. Notable attendees also included the Mayor of Orange County, Jerry Demings, and Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano.
During his speech, Laporta expressed the significance of playing in the United States: "For Barça, it's a matter of pride to return to the United States for the third summer in a row. It's a commitment to our fans here, where we feel at home and very loved."
He also participated in an exchange of gifts between clubs and organizers, predicting "a very interesting match" between Barça and Manchester City. "It will be a match between old friends, but we both want to win," he added, referring to Ferran Soriano's previous role as the former Vice President of the Economic Area at FC Barcelona.