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Few countries can match Spain’s sporting pedigree. From football and basketball to tennis and motorsport, the country has consistently produced champions and built some of the world’s most respected sporting institutions.
Today, that same experience and expertise to one of the fastest-growing movements in international sport.
Through national competitions, partnerships with elite clubs and a clear long-term vision, Phygital Games Spain has quickly established itself as one of the leading forces in the World Phygital Community.
We spoke with Juan Anguix, President of Phygital Spain, about the country’s journey, the lessons learned and why he believes his country can play an important role in shaping the future of phygital sport. For Phygital Games Spain, phygital sport is not about replacing traditional competition it is about creating new opportunities by bringing together the best of both worlds.
When phygital sport was first introduced in your country, what was the reaction from athletes, clubs, and the wider sports community?
The initial reaction was a natural blend of curiosity and healthy skepticism, which is entirely expected when a truly innovative concept enters a well-established market. Traditional clubs wondered how it would fit into their structures, while gamers were intrigued by the physical demands.
However, our role as an organization was to demonstrate the immense value of this synergy. The moment we brought traditional athletes and digital competitors together, the community recognized the potential. Skepticism quickly turned into enthusiasm. Clubs realized that phygital sports offer a powerful, modern tool to engage new generations, expand their fan bases, and build an inclusive ecosystem that honors both physical effort and strategic digital skill.
Your country has established itself as one of the world’s leading sporting nations, achieving success across a remarkable range of disciplines. How can that culture of excellence help drive the growth of emerging sports like phygital?
Spain possesses a deeply ingrained culture of sporting excellence, built on dedication, top-tier sports science, and a structured grassroots system. We know what it takes to build long-term success and develop athletes who respect the values of discipline and teamwork.
The sporting culture that exists in the country is perfect for transitioning to phygital sports. We aren’t reinventing the wheel; we are applying our proven high-performance methodologies, professional coaching structures, and administrative expertise to this new format. By treating phygital with the same seriousness and professionalism that has guided the country’s traditional sports triumphs, we are ensuring its sustainable growth and helping it mature into a highly respected professional industry.
Your country consistently produces world-class athletes and teams. In your view, how can this strong sporting tradition support the development of phygital sports in the years ahead?
Our sporting tradition provides a strong foundation of talent, infrastructure, and institutional expertise. The athletes who compete within our ecosystem benefit from a culture that values tactical intelligence, resilience, and professionalism.
Looking ahead, that foundation will continue to support the growth of phygital sports. The involvement of established clubs such as Valencia Basket demonstrates how traditional sports organisations can embrace this new format while remaining true to their identity. By bringing together sporting experience with innovation, we can create an environment where athletes develop across both physical and digital competition.
What has been the most important milestone for phygital sport since your organisation joined the World Phygital Community?
The most significant milestone has undoubtedly been achieving WPC Gold Member status. For us, this recognition represents a shared triumph and a validation of the hard work, vision, and dedication of our entire team, clubs, and players.
This status has elevated our responsibility and expanded our horizons. It has firmly established Phygital Games Spain as a trusted international partner, opening direct, strategic pathways for our athletes to represent their sport globally. It bridges our domestic talent with the global stage, offering our clubs and commercial partners the international prestige and opportunities they deserve.
What specific initiatives have helped you attract new athletes and grow participation across the country?
Our growth has been driven by a collaborative and structured approach but two key initiatives have been key:
- Strategic Alliances with Elite Clubs: Partnering with respected sporting institutions such as Valencia Basket has brought credibility to the movement and encouraged both traditional athletes and new audiences to explore phygital sports.
- Cross-Disciplinary Scouting Program: We have created a framework that helps traditional athletes discover how their tactical abilities translate into the digital environment, while showing digital competitors how physical preparation enhances performance, focus and decision-making.
Can you share a project, event, or achievement that you are particularly proud of and that demonstrates the progress of phygital sport in your country?
I am incredibly proud of how we executed Phygital Rivals: Spain. This project perfectly demonstrated the maturity and potential of our ecosystem, bringing together communities that had previously operated in isolation.
Seeing our teams like Noname Club, Valencia Basket or Klan Pedrajas triumph through both excellent digital gameplay and great physical teamwork on the pitch was a beautiful expression of what phygital sports stand for. Phygital Rivals proved to our media partners, sponsors, and fans that hybrid sports are highly engaging, structurally sound, and capable of delivering inspiring sporting stories. It has become the benchmark for our domestic operations.
In June, your teams competed at Phygital Contenders Astana 2026. What did that experience mean for your athletes and for the development of the phygital movement and what were your impressions from the level of the teams you faced?
Participating in Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 was an invaluable milestone for our entire delegation. For our athletes, it was an inspiring opportunity to measure their skills internationally and embrace their role as pioneers of the movement. For the movement itself, it highlighted a rapidly rising global standard of play.
We were deeply impressed by the high level, discipline, and tactical preparation of the international teams we faced. The matches were highly competitive and played in a spirit of great sportsmanship. Facing such top-tier opposition has given us valuable insights, confirming that our development models are on the right track while motivating our squads to keep refining their skills for the future.
The Games of the Future 2026 start at the end of July. What are your expectations for the event, and what impact do you believe it will have on the global growth of phygital sport?
Our expectations are very high; we believe The Games of the Future 2026 in Astana will be a landmark event for the global phygital community. It will serve as a magnificent showcase of innovation, production quality, and athletic versatility, inspiring fans worldwide.
For our clubs — Valencia Basket, Noname Club and Klan Pedrajas — the objective is to compete at the highest level, showcase the quality of their preparation, learn from the world’s best teams and, of course, fight for the title.
Globally, we believe the event will act as a major turning point, demonstrating to sports federations, media partners, and global sponsors that phygital sports are a permanent, positive, and deeply engaging part of the modern sports landscape.
Looking ahead, what role do you see your country playing in the future of the World Phygital Community and the wider international phygital ecosystem?
We are fully committed to playing a constructive and collaborative role within the World Phygital Community. As a Gold Member, we want to contribute by sharing our experience, supporting the development of new competitions, and exchanging best practices with other members.
We believe the future of phygital sport will be built through international collaboration. Our ambition is not only to strengthen the ecosystem in Spain, but also to help create opportunities that benefit clubs, athletes and organizers across the entire phygital community.
