The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is strengthening its diplomatic and cultural footprint in Spain by harnessing the global appeal of football, deepening cooperation with La Liga side Getafe CF, and promoting the Kurdistan Region as an emerging tourism destination.
KRG Head of Foreign Relations Safin Dizayi met with Getafe CF President Ángel Torres in Madrid on Wednesday to discuss long-term collaboration in sports diplomacy, cultural exchange, and potential economic partnerships. The meeting marked another milestone in the growing relationship between the KRG and Spanish football institutions.
The engagement took place during a broader diplomatic visit led by Darawan Haji Hamid, the KRG’s Representative in Spain. A parallel delegation, headed by Amal Jalal, Chair of the Kurdistan Tourism Board, and including members of the Kurdistan Regional Chambers of Commerce and leading business figures, also toured Getafe’s facilities. The combined political and economic presence underscored the KRG’s strategic focus on Spain as a priority partner for tourism and investment.
These initiatives are closely tied to the KRG’s “Visit Kurdistan” campaign, which aims to introduce international audiences to the region’s cultural diversity, natural beauty, and long-standing tradition of hospitality. The campaign presents the Kurdistan Region as a multicultural and welcoming destination for visitors from around the world.
As part of the campaign’s expansion, the Kurdistan flag will now appear on advertising banners in Spanish football stadiums, providing unprecedented visibility for the region in European sports. Hamid said the milestone was the result of two years of sustained engagement with Spanish institutions.
The campaign has already drawn public attention, with “Visit Kurdistan” featured prominently during the Barcelona–Guadalajara match in December 2025. According to Hamid, fans in the stadium even began chanting the slogan, reflecting the campaign’s growing resonance among Spanish audiences.
By partnering with prominent football clubs, the KRG is using sport as a diplomatic platform to foster cultural connections, boost tourism, and open new avenues for economic cooperation, transforming football stadiums into arenas of international engagement.
