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FC Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the iconic Spotify Camp Nou has once again been delayed, with the club officially confirming on Friday that the stadium will not be ready to host fans by the originally planned August 10 date for the Joan Gamper Trophy match.
The decision follows growing concerns over incomplete construction work and the club’s inability to meet the city’s strict safety and occupancy requirements in time.
The city council has withheld the final occupancy license, the Llicencia d’Ocupació, which is essential for welcoming fans back into the stadium. Without it, the club cannot reopen the redeveloped venue, despite having already secured the initial Llicencia d’Obres permit that allows work to continue.
A club statement confirmed:
“Due to the scale of the work carried out, it has not been possible to meet all the conditions laid out by the regulations governing this licence, despite the club’s intention to reopen the redeveloped stadium sector by sector.”
As a result, the Gamper Trophy fixture will now be relocated to the Estadi Johan Cruyff, a much smaller venue with a 6,000-seat capacity, adjacent to the club’s academy facilities. It marks the third consecutive year that the traditional season opener will not be held at Camp Nou.
Barça’s request to the council had centred on finishing the first and second tiers of seating, while construction on the upper tier and roof would continue into the season. The club had initially projected a return in time for the club’s 125th anniversary this November, but the redevelopment has faced repeated delays.
The club, which has played the past two seasons at the Estadi Lluis Companys (Montjuic) during the €900 million redevelopment project managed by Turkish construction firm Limak, had hoped the Gamper Trophy would serve as a low-capacity test event before hosting La Liga matches. Sources had estimated a provisional attendance between 20,000 and 30,000 for the fixture against Italian side Como.
Despite recent progress, several critical elements remain unfinished — including emergency evacuation infrastructure, urban development surrounding the venue, and full public access pathways. The entire stadium overhaul is now expected to be completed no sooner than mid-2026, with an expanded final capacity of 105,000, making it the largest stadium in Spain.
A Barça spokesperson reiterated the club’s commitment to working with authorities:
“The club is liaising closely with Barcelona City Council and the relevant authorities to make progress on the different requirements.”
Until the Camp Nou is fully operational, Barça's home games will continue at Montjuic or potentially a partially open Camp Nou, with reduced capacity projected to be between 50,000 and 60,000. La Liga has already approved the club’s request to play their first three league fixtures away from home, giving them until the September 14 match against Valencia to prepare the venue for competitive football.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Mario Cuadros, Unsplash / Fikri Rasyid
