(MENAFN) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called on fans to back next Tuesday’s friendly between the Catalonia and Palestine national football teams in Barcelona, describing the game as “much more than a game” and a powerful symbol of unity.

In a video shared on Instagram Thursday, Guardiola referred to Barcelona, the capital of the autonomous Catalonia region, as a “city of peace” and highlighted the match’s broader significance. He stressed that the event serves as a collective call for solidarity and a tribute to the more than 400 Palestinian athletes killed in Gaza since October 2023.

“Barcelona, city of peace, hosts … (Nov. 18) Tuesday the match between the Catalan National Team and the Palestinian National Team at the Olympic Stadium," Guardiola wrote. "It is much more than a game, it is a cry for solidarity, in tribute to the more than 400 Palestinian athletes who have been murdered in Gaza. Let’s fill the stadium!”

The game, organized to foster unity and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, is expected to attract thousands of spectators. Officials and sports organizations have emphasized the role of sports in promoting peace and human dignity.

Earlier this year, Spain recognized the state of Palestine alongside Ireland and Norway, encouraging other Western nations to follow suit. According to Palestinian sports authorities, roughly 400 athletes were killed between October 7, 2023, and July 2025, including 245 football players—69 children and 176 young men—with the toll likely increasing since then.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have reportedly resulted in more than 69,000 deaths and over 170,600 injuries, according to local health authorities.

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