World Ethnosport Confederation President Bilal Erdoğan made statements regarding the process of bringing the 2027 Spanish Super Cup to Istanbul. Erdoğan said that although the US offered 11 million dollars more than Turkey for the organization, the tournament will still be held in Istanbul.
The organization, in which Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Sociedad will compete, will be held in Istanbul between February 2-6, 2027. Erdoğan explained that the process began with civil diplomacy contacts carried out through the World Ethnosport Confederation.
Meeting with young people at the Diplomacy Workshop organized by the AK Party Istanbul Provincial Youth Branch, Erdoğan recounted the process of the tournament coming to Istanbul upon a question directed at him. AK Party Youth Branch President Yusuf İbiş and AK Party Istanbul Youth Branch President Nevzat Yüce also attended the program.
HOW DID THE PROCESS BEGIN?
According to Erdoğan's account, about 2-3 months ago, Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, was hosted in Istanbul. During the meeting, the work of the World Ethnosport Confederation in the field of traditional sports was conveyed. It was stated that Al-Sheikh said that it was planned to hold the Spanish Super Cup in another country due to the Asian Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
Erdoğan stated that Al-Sheikh expressed that Istanbul could also be a candidate, and described the meeting with the following words: “He said, 'Let's make a bid for Istanbul too, let's see if we can bring it to Istanbul.' We immediately said, 'It would be very good for Turkey.'”
Stating that negotiations with relevant institutions, ministries, and clubs began after this contact, Erdoğan emphasized that the economic offer was not the only determining factor in the organization coming to Turkey.
“Many things come together to make it possible in Turkey. Just making the strongest offer is not enough. The teams wanting Istanbul, the good relations between Turkey and Spain, and the fact that Turkey-Saudi Arabia relations are currently developing... When all these come together, the Spanish Super Cup will take place in Turkey, even though the US offered 11 million dollars more than Turkey.”
Erdoğan cited this process as an example of the contribution that civil diplomacy can make to inter-state relations. Stating that Turkey hosting more international organizations will increase its civil diplomacy power, Erdoğan noted that the legal and economic infrastructure should be developed in this regard.
In the 2027 Spanish Super Cup, the Barcelona-Atletico Madrid semi-final will be played on February 2 at the Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex. The Real Sociedad-Real Madrid match will be held on February 3 at the Tüpraş Stadium. The final will be held on February 6 at RAMS Park.
News Source: 12punto
