Catalonia national football team facts for kids
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| Association | Catalan Football Federation (Federació Catalana de Futbol) | |||
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| Confederation | None | |||
| Head coach | Gerard López | |||
| Captain | Oriol Romeu | |||
| Most caps | Sergio García (16) | |||
| Top scorer | Sergio García (9) | |||
| Home stadium | Camp Nou Stage Front Stadium Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Estadi Montilivi Johan Cruyff Stadium |
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| FIFA code | CAT | |||
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| First international | ||||
Not FIFA results Paris 3–1 Catalonia  (San Sebastián, Spain; 24 July 1910) FIFA results  France 7–0 Catalonia (Paris, France; 21 February 1912) |
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| Biggest win | ||||
Not FIFA results Catalonia 9–0 Brussels  (Barcelona, Spain; 16 June 1927) FIFA results Catalonia 6–0 Jamaica  (Girona, Spain; 25 May 2022) |
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| Biggest defeat | ||||
| France 7–0 Catalonia (Paris, France; 21 February 1912)  Spain 7–0 Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain; 13 March 1924) |
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The Catalonia national football team (Catalan: Selecció de futbol de Catalunya) is the official football team of Catalonia. It is organized by the Catalan Football Federation, which started in 1900. The team has also been called Selecció Catalana or the Catalan XI.
The Catalan Federation is part of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. This means Catalonia cannot join FIFA or UEFA as a national team. Because of this, they cannot play in big official tournaments like the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship. Most Catalan players are also Spanish citizens. They can play for the Spain team, and many often do.
Since 1904, the team has played almost 200 games. These matches have been against national teams, regional teams, and club teams. They have played international friendly games more often since 1997. Some of the teams they have played against include Nigeria, Brazil, and Argentina.
Contents
History of the Team
Early Matches and First Wins
The Catalonia team played its first game in 1905. They first played against club teams like Club Espanyol and FC Barcelona. On July 24, 1910, they played their first international game. They lost 3-1 to a Paris XI team. Carles Comamala scored Catalonia's goal.
On February 20, 1912, they played their first friendly against France. They lost 7-0 in Paris. Later that year, on December 1, 1912, they played France again in Barcelona. This time, Catalonia won 1-0 with a goal from Genaro de la Riva.
In 1914, the Catalan XI played the Basque Country XI for the first time. Their first recorded game was on January 3, 1915. Catalonia lost that match 6-1.
Winning the Prince of Asturias Cup
Between 1915 and 1926, the Catalan XI played in the Copa Príncep d'Astúries. This was a competition between different regions in Spain. They came in second place in 1915. They won the cup for the first time in 1916. They beat a team from Castile/Madrid 8-5 over two games. This included a big 6-3 win in Madrid.
In the 1920s, famous players like Josep Samitier and Ricardo Zamora helped the Catalan XI win the cup again. They won in 1924 and 1926. In 1924, they beat a Castile/Madrid XI in a very exciting final. The game ended 4-4 after extra time. In a replay two days later, Catalonia won 3-2 and became champions.
The last time this competition was held was in 1926. Catalonia played against the Asturias XI. Catalonia won both games (2-0 and 4-3) and got to keep the trophy.
International Friendly Games
In the 1920s, the Catalan XI also played many international friendly matches. On March 13, 1924, they played the Spain team for the first time. Spain won 7-0. On December 13, 1925, the Catalan XI beat Czechoslovakia 2-1. This game was played in Estadi de Sarrià.
In the 1930s, Catalonia kept playing friendly games. In 1934, they played Brazil twice. On June 17, the Catalan XI beat Brazil 2-1. On June 24, they tied 2-2 with Brazil in Girona. The Brazil team had famous player Leônidas.
The Franco Era and Football
After the Spanish Civil War, Francisco Franco ruled Spain. He put many rules on Catalonia. He banned the official use of the Catalan language and the Catalan flag. Even with these rules, the Catalan XI continued to play. They even played Spain twice. On October 19, 1947, they beat Spain 3-1.
During this time, many great players from Barcelona played for the Catalan XI. These included László Kubala and Luis Suárez. On January 26, 1955, Alfredo Di Stéfano also played as a guest for the Catalan XI. They won 6-2 against Bologna.
The Franco era ended with a friendly game against the Soviet Union. This match was played at the Camp Nou on June 6, 1976. Famous players like Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens played for Catalonia. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Modern Era of Matches
Since Spain became a democracy again in the 1970s, the Catalonia team has played many international friendly matches. They have had good results against teams like Bulgaria and Nigeria.
On May 5, 2002, Catalonia played Brazil in a friendly game. Brazil won 3-1. Brazil later won the official 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2004, Brazil returned and won 5-2. Later that year, Argentina beat Catalonia 3-0. Recent friendly matches have been against teams like Paraguay and Costa Rica.
Johan Cruyff as Coach
On November 2, 2009, famous Dutch player and coach Johan Cruyff became the new coach of Catalonia. On December 22, 2009, they played a friendly against Argentina. Catalonia won 4-2 at Camp Nou.
On December 28, 2010, Catalonia played Honduras. They won 4-0. On December 30, 2011, they tied 0-0 with Tunisia. In Cruyff's last game as coach, on January 2, 2013, Catalonia drew 1-1 with Nigeria.
After Cruyff: New Coaches
Former player Gerard López became the new coach for the Catalan team. His first match was on December 30, 2013, against Cape Verde.
Recent Matches and Results
2022 Matches
| 25 May Friendly | Catalonia |
6–0 | Jamaica |
Girona, Catalonia |
| 18:45 | Deulofeu  3', 28', 44'Bartra 35'Jutglà 74'Puado 88' |
Stadium: Estadi Montilivi Attendance: 6,124 Referee: Victor Garcia Verdura (Spain) |
2023 Matches
| 8 June Friendly | Catalonia |
Cancelled |  Mali |
Lleida, Catalonia |
| 19:00 | Stadium: Camp d'Esports |
2024 Matches
| 29 May Friendly | Catalonia |
2–2 |  Panama |
Sabadell, Catalonia |
| 19:00 | Jutglà 9' Aleñá 92' |
E. Davis 17' Gondola 27' |
Stadium: Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta Attendance: 5.859 Referee: Victor Garcia Verdura (Spain) |
2025 Matches
| 28 May Friendly | Catalonia |
2–0 |  Costa Rica |
Sant Joan Despí, Catalonia |
| 19:00 | A. Roca 71' Aleñá 89' |
Stadium: Johan Cruyff Stadium Attendance: 5.352 Referee: Víctor García Verdura (Spain) |
Coaching Staff
Manager History
- Pichi Alonso (1995–2005)
- Pere Gratacós (2005–2009)
- Johan Cruyff (2009–2013)
- Gerard López (2013–2016)
- Sergio González (2015–2018)
- Gerard López (2018–present)
Players of the Team
The Catalonia team is not part of FIFA. This means different rules apply to who can play. Players who have already played for a FIFA national team can also play for Catalonia. However, if they are called up by both, the FIFA team (usually Spain) comes first.
Clubs do not have to let their players join the Catalan team. Sometimes, clubs outside Spain or those with important upcoming games say no. Players can also choose not to play. This means the Catalan squads are not always at their strongest. But it also means the players who do join are very committed. For many, it's their only chance to play international football.
Current Squad
The players listed below were called up for the friendly match against Costa Rica on May 28, 2025. All caps and goals are as of May 28, 2025, after the match against Costa Rica.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Daniel Cárdenas | 28 March 1997 | 3 | 0 |  Rayo Vallecano |
| 13 | GK | Joan García | 4 May 2001 | 1 | 0 | Espanyol |
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| 2 | DF | Adrià Altimira | 28 March 2001 | 1 | 0 | Leganés |
| 3 | DF | Eric García | 9 January 2001 | 2 | 0 | Barcelona |
| 4 | DF | Arnau Martínez | 25 April 2003 | 2 | 0 | Girona |
| 5 | DF | David López | 9 October 1989 | 2 | 0 | Girona |
| 7 | DF | Àlex Moreno | 8 June 1993 | 2 | 0 |  Nottingham Forest |
| 15 | DF | Mika Mármol | 1 July 2001 | 2 | 0 | Las Palmas |
| 22 | DF | Sergi Cardona | 8 July 1999 | 2 | 0 | Villarreal |
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| 6 | MF | Oriol Romeu (captain) | 24 September 1991 | 4 | 0 | Girona |
| 8 | MF | Edu Expósito | 1 August 1996 | 1 | 0 | Espanyol |
| 10 | MF | Sergio Gómez | 4 September 2000 | 2 | 0 | Real Sociedad |
| 11 | MF | Carles Aleñá | 5 January 1998 | 3 | 2 | Alavés |
| 14 | MF | Aleix García | 28 June 1997 | 2 | 0 |  Bayer Leverkusen |
| 16 | MF | Ramon Terrats | 18 October 2000 | 2 | 0 | Getafe |
| 17 | MF | Jofre Carreras | 17 June 2001 | 1 | 0 | Espanyol |
| 20 | MF | Pol Lozano | 6 October 1999 | 1 | 0 | Espanyol |
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| 9 | FW | Ferran Jutglà | 1 February 1999 | 3 | 2 |  Club Brugge |
| 18 | FW | Pau Víctor | 26 November 2001 | 1 | 0 | Barcelona |
| 19 | FW | Keita Baldé | 8 March 1995 | 2 | 0 |  Monza |
| 21 | MF | Antoniu Roca | 5 September 2002 | 1 | 1 | Espanyol |
Recent Call-ups
These players have been called up for the team recently and can still be chosen.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Arnau Tenas | 30 May 2001 | 1 | 0 |  Paris Saint-Germain |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
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| DF | Gerard Martín | 26 February 2002 | 0 | 0 | Barcelona |
v. Costa Rica, 28 May 2025 WD |
| DF | Óscar Mingueza | 13 May 1999 | 2 | 0 | Celta |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| DF | Héctor Bellerín | 19 March 1995 | 1 | 0 | Betis |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| DF | Marc Pubill | 20 June 2003 | 1 | 0 | Almeria |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| DF | Sergi Gómez | 28 March 1992 | 3 | 0 | Espanyol |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 WD |
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| MF | Raúl Moro | 5 December 2002 | 0 | 0 | Valladolid |
v. Costa Rica, 28 May 2025 |
| MF | Gerard Gumbau | 18 December 1994 | 2 | 0 | Rayo Vallecano |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| MF | Marc Roca | 26 November 1996 | 2 | 0 | Betis |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| MF | Sergi Altimira | 25 August 2001 | 1 | 0 | Betis |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| MF | Jastin García | 15 January 2004 | 1 | 0 | Girona B |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| MF | Joan González | 1 February 2002 | 1 | 0 | Lecce |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| MF | Joan Jordán | 6 July 1994 | 3 | 0 | Alavés |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
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| FW | Marc Cardona | 8 July 1995 | 2 | 0 | Las Palmas |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 |
| FW | Aitor Ruibal | 22 March 1996 | 0 | 0 | Betis |
v. Panama, 29 May 2024 WD |
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Guest Players
Since Catalonia is not a FIFA member, players not born in Catalonia can sometimes play for the team. This is less common now. Most guest players were playing for Barcelona or Espanyol at the time. Some, like Andrés Iniesta, lived in Catalonia for a long time because of their football careers.
- Players from Spain
- Andrés Iniesta
- César Rodríguez
- Chus Pereda
- Francisco Bru
- Gallego
- Guillermo Amor
- José Bravo
- José Luis Zabala
- José María
- Josema Rodilla
- Juan José Nogués
- Juan Velasco
- Juan Verdugo Pérez
- Luis Suárez
- Manuel Osorio
- Manuel Polinario
- Manuel Sanchis Martinez
- Marcial Pina
- Miguel Ángel Ochoa
- Nando García
- Pepe Reina
- Quique Costas
- Rosendo Hernández
- Severiano Goiburu
- Simón Lecue
- Players from Other Countries
- Alejandro Morera Soto
Carlos Caszely
Dagoberto Moll- Enrique Fernández
Eulogio Martínez
Evaristo de Macedo
Hristo Stoichkov
Hugo Sotil
Johan Neeskens
László Kubala- Luis César Ortiz
- Marcel Domingo
- Melanio Olmedo
- Nasko Sirakov
Keita Baldé
Jordi Amat
Team Achievements
- Copa Príncep d'Astúries
- Winners (3): 1916, 1923–24 and 1926
- Runners-up (2): 1915 and 1917
- Catalonia International Trophy
- Winners (3): 2009, 2010, 2013
- Runners-up (2): 2011, 2012, 2016
Match Records Against Other Teams
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 33.33 |
| Brazil |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 25.00 |
| Bulgaria |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
 Cape Verde |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 |
| Chile |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
 China |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
 Colombia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
| Costa Rica |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
| Czechoslovakia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 50.00 |
 Ecuador |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 100.00 |
 Yugoslavia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
| France |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 50.00 |
 Honduras |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 |
| Jamaica |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.00 |
 Lithuania |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 100.00 |
 Nigeria |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 50.00 |
| Panama |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 0.00 |
| Paraguay |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
 Soviet Union |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
| Spain |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 | −13 | 25.00 |
 Tunisia |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 0.00 |
 Venezuela |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
| Total (22 opponents) | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 65 | 57 | +8 | 50.00 |
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Cataluña para niños
- Catalonia women's national football team
- Catalan football championship
- Catalonia national basketball team
- Catalonia national rugby league team
- Catalonia national rugby union team
