14th July 2026
July 14 – Bulgaria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Encho Keryazov, held a meeting with representatives of the Spanish football club FC Barcelona to discuss potential cooperation and the exchange of best practices in football development and the modernization of sports infrastructure. Minister Keryazov stated that it would be an honour for Bulgaria to draw from the experience of one of the world’s most successful clubs, expressing his belief that such a partnership could motivate more children to stay active, while building bridges and instilling lifelong values. During the discussion, the Barcelona delegation presented a concept for a four-year program aimed at developing Bulgarian football. The core objectives of the initiative focus on increasing the number of actively sporting children and youth, as well as elevating the level of the national teams through the introduction of a new system for talent scouting and development. The presented framework places a strong emphasis on the training process, combining athletic preparation with education, and upgrading the qualifications of local coaches and sports specialists. Additionally, the sides explored the possibility of FC Barcelona providing expert knowledge and best practices for the renovation of Bulgarian sports facilities.
The representatives of the Spanish club also emphasized that Bulgaria has deep-rooted traditions and a significant football legacy, specifically highlighting the legendary Hristo Stoichkov and his iconic role in Barcelona’s history.