Barcelona, one of the original architects of the controversial European Super League project, has formally withdrawn, marking a significant milestone in the long-running saga that has divided European football since its dramatic launch in 2021.
In an official statement released on February 7, 2026, FC Barcelona confirmed: “FC Barcelona hereby announces that today it has formally notified the European Super League Company and the clubs involved of its withdrawal from the European Super League project.”
This decision ends Barcelona’s involvement in the breakaway competition, which was initially backed by 12 of Europe’s elite clubs aiming to create a closed, high-revenue league to rival the UEFA Champions League. The project faced immediate and intense backlash from fans, governments, players, and governing bodies, leading to the rapid exit of nine founding members—including all six Premier League clubs—within days of its announcement.
Juventus later withdrew in 2023, reducing the remaining committed clubs to just Barcelona and arch-rivals Real Madrid. With Barcelona’s departure, Real Madrid now stands alone as the only founding member still associated with the initiative, supported by organizers A22 Sports Management.