Blaugrana family expanded with two new penyes in Iraq

The FC Barcelona has officially endirsed two new official FC Barcelona supporters clubs, or penyes, and they are both in Iraq, taking the overall number of such clubs outside of Spain to 155, with Iraq now having four of them.

Over 1,000 members in Karbala

The Penya Blaugrana de Karbala has over a thousand members who gather to watch games together in one of Islam's holy cities.

As well as watching games, the movement works hard to foster football and other sports among its younger members and other youth teams in Karbala.

It is also highly committed to charity campaigns in its region, and plans to organise a number of fund-raising events to help people in need, visits to orphanages and action to support the environment.

Solidarity in Kirkuk

Kirkuk lies 260 to the north of Baghdad, where 250 blaugrana supporters have formed a new organisation that has been officially recognised by the FC Barcelona board.

The Penya Blaugrana de Kirkuk not only holds events to watch Barça games but is also highly dedicated to its local community, and held a number of activities during Ramadan, mainly collecting food for people most in need and supporting local hospitals. It also works with schools in the city and runs football competitions for children.