February 10 – Spanish football has gained yet another deep-pocketed backer from the Gulf, as Bahrain secures a major sponsorship deal with Córdoba CF through its sports investment arm, Bahrain Victorious.
The agreement cements Bahrain Victorious as both the front-of-shirt sponsor and stadium naming-rights holder for the LaLiga 2 club, with Córdoba’s home ground now rebranded as the Bahrain Victorious Nuevo Arcángel de Córdoba Stadium—a mouthful, but a lucrative one.
Córdoba CF, who play in Spain’s second tier, are owned by Infinity Capital, a Bahrain backed private equity business.
The deal also grants Bahrain extensive branding assets, hospitality perks, and premium digital marketing rights.
For Bahrain Victorious, best known for its high-profile backing of the UCI WorldTour cycling team Team Bahrain Victorious, this move marks a strategic expansion into football – a space where Gulf nations are increasingly flexing their financial muscle.
Bahrain follows the well-trodden path paved by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Spanish football. Saudi Arabia has been particularly aggressive, with Visit Saudi becoming LaLiga’s official global sponsor in 2023 and a long-term deal in place to host the Supercopa de España on Saudi soil. Meanwhile, Riyadh Air has secured front-of-shirt and stadium naming rights with Atlético Madrid, further embedding the kingdom into the Spanish football ecosystem.
Not to be outdone, Dubai’s Emirates airline continues its longstanding partnership with Real Madrid, a deal that has gone beyond shirt sponsorship to include a full-scale Real Madrid theme park in Dubai.
With Bahrain now joining the mix, Spanish football is increasingly becoming a battleground for Gulf soft power, branding, and economic influence. Córdoba CF may not have the global appeal of Madrid or Barcelona, but as these sponsorships show, football’s reach extends far beyond the pitch—and the Gulf nations are determined to be at the heart of it.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1739264618labto1739264618ofdlr1739264618owedi1739264618sni@g1739264618niwe.1739264618yrrah1739264618