Interviews
JUE 27.04.2023
The day before heading to Mexico for vacation in March, an Instagram ad caught Jose Guillen’s eye.
The eLaLiga U.S. Challenge presented by Panini America was set to begin, pitting fans and players of EA Sports’ FIFA 23 in a competition full of prizes, bragging rights, celebrities and the ultimate prize of an all-inclusive, in-person LaLiga experience in Spain.
Guillen packed up his PlayStation 5 and borrowed a monitor from his cousin to participate.
“I was like, ‘I'll give it a try and see what happens,’” Guillen says. “And from there I kept winning.”
Recently advancing to the Celebrity Challenge portion of the competition, Guillen virtually met Yunus Musah and was selected to represent the Valencia CF star in the tournament’s Final Event live and in person on June 3 in Miami.
While he’s cut his teeth as a verified player on FIFA Ultimate Team, Guillen has relied on his favorite club, FC Barcelona, to advance through the eLaLiga U.S. Challenge.
“Of course I picked Barcelona,” he says. “I like to play tiki-taka a lot. But I’ll find (Ousmane) Dembélé because he’s fast and has the skill moves.”
Even though he’s been to Miami twice, though never before to compete, a potential trip to Spain would be a dream come true for Guillen, who has only seen Barça in person once—on July 24, 2022 against rivals Real Madrid at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Guillen, 19, went with his parents, Jose Sr., a fellow Barça fan, and Jeannette, a Madrid supporter. Raphina scored the game’s only goal as Barcelona bested Real Madrid 1-0 in front of a sold-out crowd of 61,299.
“It’s not the same thing as seeing El Clásico in Spain, but it was a good experience,” Guillen says. “Tickets were kind of expensive but it was worth it.”
Guillen, who played semi-pro for El Azul of the Colorado Premier League in Denver, only started playing soccer when he was 11. He actually started playing basketball before transitioning from the hardcourt to the pitch.
Now he’s leveraging his Barça and FIFA fandom and experience to potentially see his club in person.
“For me that’s a dream come true,” he says. “I’m a big fan of soccer so it would mean a lot to me.”
FULL SERIES:
A Breakaway from Household Support
Real’s remontadas roped in this fan
Unexpected Encounter Leads to Unforgettable Experience
Sevilla Fandom Comes Full Circle
UD Almería unites community in New Jersey
Basque Roots Grow in Meaning for Boise Student
Local peña helps Celta Vigo fans overcome morriña
San Diego, the Birthplace of the first Cádiz Peña in the U.S.
Fate, luck and curiosity brought this fan to Atleti
Real Sociedad fandom blossoming in Boise
Growing up in awe of Sánchez, Real Madrid
Ortegas proudly promote Real Betis around the globe
¡Vamos mi Sevilla! ¡Vamos Nueva York!
Mexico’s Márquez Converted This Culé
Covid can’t stop this Valencia CF socio
Living near the Bernabéu led to this fan loving Real Madrid
How a U.S. Elementary School Principal Helped Save Real Oviedo
Growing the Beautiful Game in Montreal and Beyond
Uruguay’s Forlán Helped This Fan Fall in Love With Atleti
Ready to stick with RCD Mallorca through thick and thin
Behind this Barça Fan’s Pregame Ritual
A Fan’s Growing Barça Obsession in Toronto
Villarreal Academy Creates New Fans in Nebraska
Zamorano, Casillas Led this Fan to Real Madrid
All in on El Submarino Amarillo
Love, Marriage and Real Madrid
Watching Madrid at Bernabéu would be a “dream”
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