Barcelona may be set for another unplanned Camp Nou return delay: What would it mean for their La Liga and Champions League fixtures?
It was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. After nearly two years of playing away from their iconic ground, Barcelona had earmarked August 10 as the day they would return to the Spotify Camp Nou for the Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Como. However, as the date approaches, signs point toward yet another unexpected delay — and questions are swirling about what it could mean for the club’s upcoming campaign.
Barcelona has not played a competitive game at the Camp Nou since March 2023. While the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys served as a temporary home during renovations, fans have eagerly awaited the return to their beloved venue. But that moment may be postponed once more due to construction setbacks and administrative roadblocks.
According to 3Cat and other Catalonia-based outlets such as Sport and Mundo Deportivo, the club is unlikely to receive the necessary occupancy license from the City Council in time. While permits for ongoing construction and limited activity have been granted, the critical “first occupancy license” is still pending — and without it, no official matches can take place at the stadium.
“The City Council explained it cannot begin to consider the occupancy license until work at the stadium is complete,” Sport reported.
Why the Joan Gamper Trophy is at risk
The Joan Gamper Trophy, traditionally a celebratory curtain-raiser for Barcelona’s season, was planned as the symbolic reopening of Camp Nou. Initially, the club hoped to welcome 60,000 fans, then reduced expectations to 30,000–32,000 due to unfinished areas. However, even that compromise now appears unlikely.
Barca is said to be considering moving the match to the Estadi Johan Cruyff, a much smaller venue at the club’s training complex, with just 6,000 seats. With the Estadi Olimpic hosting a concert the day before the planned match, options are limited.
Club sources have admitted that they see little hope of securing the license before the end of the week — a key deadline for organizing the Gamper event.
Targeting a new date
Internally, the Blaugrana is now targeting September 14 for the official reopening, when they are set to host Valencia in La Liga. Club insiders described that timeline as “viable,” assuming all permits are secured and safety conditions met.
“We believe all necessary permits will be in place by then,” one source told Sport, indicating cautious optimism. However, there are still unresolved issues, such as the completion of the stands, public access areas, evacuation infrastructure, and the surrounding urban development.
The delay doesn’t only affect the Joan Gamper Trophy — it also casts a shadow over the team’s Champions League fixtures. UEFA regulations mandate that clubs confirm their home stadium well before the group stage begins on September 16-18. If Camp Nou is not approved by then, Hansi Flick’s players may have to play the entire group stage at an alternate venue.
This is especially concerning, as UEFA does not permit venue changes mid-phase. A temporary fix would become a full-time commitment for the group round, affecting prestige, revenue, and fan engagement.