![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Neymar](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14406891289_3ed375e7c3_o.jpg)
The World Cup fever is at its peak now, with just the semi-finals and finals matches to go. In two days time, Argentina will be playing the Netherlands while Brazil will be playing Germany.
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Lionel Messi](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14593451555_9d333b5237_o.jpg)
Arguably one of the world’s best football player, Lionel Messi, will be playing for Argentina. His FC Barcelona (FCB) teammate, Neymar, should have been playing for Brazil too, but is out with a back injury. A pity, else we might get to see a FCB showdown between Neymar and Messi if Brazil and Argentina advanced.
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Outside Camp Nou in Barcelona](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14407038940_25c0120962_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Fans queuing to buy tickets](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/14407099719_c8640ff742_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Giant poster of Qatar stewardess with FCB players](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14590072191_bc12e8ac3b_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Home of FCB](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5314/14591786604_a2c7beb861_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Float the flags](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/14613521693_6406968869_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Join the FCB fans club](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/14590153761_9ebbe3575f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Random FCB sign](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/14593437045_4c7007faca_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Entering into the stadium](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/14593002512_c0eeeb56e8_o.jpg)
I had the good fortune to watch both Messi and Neymar play LIVE during a FCB match on home ground at Camp Nou in Barcelona, thanks to Qatar Airways, the title sponsor for FC Barcelona. They were playing against Real Betis, but no one seems to care who they were playing against. Clearly, most of the audience were there for FCB:
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Catalan flags waving](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14593498915_4065d9127c_o.jpg)
I get to see Messi, Neymar and the rest of the FCB team in action, this close:
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Lionel Messi just strolled by](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14406946009_2e3995deca_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways How close were we to the field?](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/14593515415_29d43c2455_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways We sat just behind this capsule where the players sat](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14407106107_02c7dd851f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The players' seats have the Qatar Airways brand on them](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14406912568_103b429426_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Super close football actions](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14407097587_f40f3bb074_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Messi closing in](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/14591630224_4d03957ef3_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Messi in possession](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14613602903_533a4172a6_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways A tackle from Real Betis](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5153/14406881160_e5c6e82af5_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways A ball pass](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3911/14592852212_ec033eeef2_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Half-time](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14406934589_f42c9dcbb1_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways I saw Messi right in front of me, thanks to the wonderful front row seats from Qatar Airways](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14406873720_3d4a65d958_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Excited little fans shouting out to their favourite players](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14407088077_214396161c_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Stern looking security personnel](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14590219641_fd7deb11f9_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Group photo at half-time from our seats](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14613468153_b7e57c7662_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Second-half of the game](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14613578503_ab4739f392_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Look who's stretching and getting ready to play](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14592824182_bef6c79f2f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Neymar praying](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/14593490985_8d2999567c_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Enthusiastic crowd](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14570458716_38c22226ac_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Real Betis going for a goal](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14406898058_3bf26f6a56_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Ball tussle](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/14407064377_a072fa41eb_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The animated Real Betis manager](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14592812622_675efc305b_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Neymar going in](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/14593474555_bc2de28848_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Handing over](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14613564593_ec00c398f6_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Neymar in action](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/14570445646_cddff01c7d_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Goal kick](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14591592104_83b7be66b3_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Shot was not converted to a goal](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/14406902079_0a623b98b9_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Messi going for a goal](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/14613559883_15fc357c79_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Messi scored!](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14406900479_e1da9f477a_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The spectators went wild](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/14406881518_20a92dec35_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Beautiful day to watch football](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/14406897579_9f974e95ea_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB in possession](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/14593467415_08025b90d7_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Game ended](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/14593453555_8a5611de35_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The two coaches hugging after the match](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/14591582994_c3caac7a0c_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Neymar shaking hands with the Real Betis manager](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14406828330_cd5f37fd4f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Neymar with a Real Betis player](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3910/14592792872_0d32f0a88a_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Messi taking his leave after the game](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14406881119_b452d5535a_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Spectators emptying the stadium](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/14591569404_88797a68b5_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways My parting shot with Camp Nou after the match](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3886/14406859038_3ace0d0684_o.jpg)
Envious?
I must admit, I am not a hardcore football fan, but when I stepped into the stadium for the first time and saw this:
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Stepping into the stadium for the first time](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/14591641184_a898740d01_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways These are human beings, not ants](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/14592847282_24c09bbd50_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Packed stadium](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/14406919208_aa3eaf8c76_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways And I mean really really packed...](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14590229081_0e56ff6dec_o.jpg)
I was totally overwhelmed by the passion and the infectious atmosphere to just cheer for FCB. I am sold. FCB is really more than just a club, like their slogan proclaims.
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Me, FCB convert](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/14406945217_f423b688a4_o.jpg)
Qatar Airways have a really awesome Land of FCB video commercial which has got over four million views on youtube alone. Check it out:
There are even Qatar Airways plane painted with FCB branding:
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Fancy flying in a plane like this? Fly Qatar Airways!](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/14409282460_2eefe40555_b.jpg)
We cannot get enough of FCB after watching the match, so we came back again two days later to tour the stadium on a non-match day.
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB crest](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/14406786569_c6c7130b3d_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Footballer statue](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5561/14590074521_b8f8e5178c_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Group picture after the FC Barcelona v Real Betis match](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/14592687132_abf3aee3f6_o.jpg)
Camp Nou (New Field in Catalan) is the home of FC Barcelona since 1957. The stadium seats 99,786, making it the largest stadium in Europe and the 11th largest in the world in terms of capacity. It has hosted numerous international matches at a senior level, including two UEFA Champions League finals and the football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
For tourists, I find the easiest way to get to Camp Nou by public transport is to take the Metro train which we did. The closest stations to Camp Nou are Palau Reial, Maria Cristina and Les Corts, on L3; i Badal i Collblanc, on L5. All are 500 to 1,000 metres from Camp Nou, depending on which of the gates to Camp Nou one uses.
Here are some of the pictures I took during the tour:
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Revisiting Camp Nou](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/14593062422_47eeac5fd0_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Qatar Airways branding](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/14407324677_97129bed19_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Audi branding](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14593739695_d189a16c8d_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Counters to buy admission tickets](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14593735765_d3f022a3ba_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways My admission ticket](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/14407107600_444743686a_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Make your own FCB souvenir coin](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14407098290_ecced2cd53_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Tribute to goalies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/14407159269_b05cd2b117_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Club crest on the field](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14407292667_c1df29b8ef_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Stairs leading up to the field](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14593042302_10745108c5_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Snack stall](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14591821824_e41ca9e895_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways There's a little chapel for prayers before and after the game](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14590424421_920f9ef6d9_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The changing room](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14407295347_7bb9e20c13_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Other side of the room](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/14593710785_2557a932b1_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Little jacuzzi pool](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/14407295647_7c68e35fde_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Chairs for physiotherapy and massage](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3926/14593710485_4624f8965c_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Press room](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14613796123_038b54cdcd_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Media interview area](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/14593711705_f2a0de0d02_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Club slogan - more than just a club](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2896/14613791553_c348183ce4_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Qatar Airways branding on the seats](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/14593705835_3a59bd8ac3_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Nike logo on the other side](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/14407070330_e236a74953_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Me seated in the commentators and media box](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/14407134799_3b1fb0eec2_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Qatar Airways seats for the players](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3875/14593041692_ca79548332_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Inside the exhibtion hall](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5594/14593056602_5cfc1767c5_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB historical items](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/14407306497_dc007e5079_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Messi's jersey and signed football](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14591832284_b6c3137278_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Trophies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14590428041_e3c3b0f848_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Trophies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14590430081_0787a35f23_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways More trophies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/14570686296_a6ae206aaf_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Trophies from other Barcelona sports teams](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/14593049142_bc1555f042_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Signed basketball shoes](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/14591830614_75c1d4b446_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Gasol's signed NBA jersey](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14613801563_2955dd6874_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Autographed football](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3875/14407126498_46e9fdf09e_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Autographed jersey and golden ball](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/14613802143_171108425f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Autographed shoes](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/14407302597_6e06e962e9_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways More trophies still](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14407146519_629ba8046e_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Me with Lionel Messi's 4 x Ballon D'or trophies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/14590427831_7b908dd149_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Closer look at Messi's trophies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14613797683_304e05ca73_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Early collecting cards](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2895/14590434681_6dda365ed9_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB heritage](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/14407306497_dc007e5079_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB items](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/14590432871_1db7e2727d_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Autographed jersey](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14407085070_318124b074_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Special Obama jersey of the US President](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2896/14407084460_dafb2c10c9_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Bridge linking the stadium to the Nike store](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3881/14407092380_2e213f0046_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB video highlights](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14593032542_c6606ea7c7_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The making of the Land of FC Barcelona video commercial for Qatar Airways](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14407129229_242c1e1af3_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Old TV clips of FCB](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/14407130639_aa08145ba7_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Cartoon FCB](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14407111928_94b6c24cae_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB legacy](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/14407287437_407d8d9b71_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Barca Champions](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3880/14593033642_f03466414f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Have your photo taken with your favourite FCB player (on green screen)](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14407128739_aeb1e6c1b2_o.jpg)
Pictures from the gigantic Nike store touting all the official FCB licensed merchandises. Fans will burst their wallets here on a shopping spree:
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCBotiga Megastore](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/14407161809_2853d41209_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways NIke bridge](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2923/14613823053_f6455cb0a4_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Enter the Nike FCB store in Camp Nou](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/14613782543_dc2e7dbe82_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways What to buy?](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2896/14570671276_db48d5d396_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Posing mannequins](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2900/14613783583_29e2018218_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Retail dream for FCB fans](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/14570670146_95ca538c6f_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Football sneakers](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/14407125089_c24d190f30_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Iconic blue and red stripes jersey. Guess which players' jerseys are stocked the most?](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14593028192_ee66b90d7a_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Yellow and red stripes jersey](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/14593027872_88f9659ec8_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB footballs](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2895/14407063090_38aee11788_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Assorted jerseys](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14407065410_1e0130dc16_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB tees](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14613781603_06bdd03d09_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways FCB Women's team jersey and kit](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/14407107008_9e64f94b67_o.jpg)
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways Basement floor](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14407114059_79f979d742_o.jpg)
Do you feel like flying to Barcelona now after reading this post?
Together with Qatar Airways, I am running a small contest to give away an official FCB football jersey. To win it, just retweet or share this blog post on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag, #QatarLovesSG.
![My FC Barcelona Experience with Qatar Airways The official FCB jersey that I am giving away, courtesy of Qatar Airways](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/14406964197_a2ba751104_o.jpg)
Winner will be announced end July. 🙂