After Barcelona pulled out of their planned friendly in Libya, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan have stepped in to headline the high-profile exhibition match in Benghazi — a fixture now drawing international attention for both sporting and political reasons.
Barcelona had originally agreed to take part in the “Reconstruction Cup”, an event aimed at promoting Libya’s return to normalcy and showcasing its newly renovated Benghazi International Stadium. However, the Catalan club withdrew at the last moment, citing security and logistical concerns, and returned the reported €5 million appearance fee.
In their place, Atlético Madrid accepted the invitation, negotiating a fee of around €3–3.5 million, and viewed the match as an opportunity to build global visibility and give playing time to squad members not on international duty.
For Libya, hosting the game is symbolic — a message to the world that the nation is ready to reopen its doors to international sports after years of instability. The match is expected to attract thousands of fans, with local authorities promising full security measures for both teams.
Despite initial controversy following Barcelona’s withdrawal, the encounter between Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan now stands as a showcase of both football diplomacy and resilience — marking a significant moment for Libyan sport on the global stage.
