Barcelona has postponed their much-anticipated return to the Camp Nou stadium, originally scheduled for August 10, due to regulatory hurdles.
The club announced on Friday that difficulties in securing a partial occupancy license have forced them to suspend the planned friendly match, which was expected to mark their return to their historic home after two years of renovation work.
“Barcelona informs that the first match back at the Spotify Camp Nou has been suspended,” the club said in an official statement.
“Because of the magnitude of the work done, it was impossible to meet all the requirements demanded by the regulations governing the granting of the first occupancy license, despite the club’s willingness to open Spotify Camp Nou in sections.”
The friendly, previously reported to be against Italian club Como, will now be held at the Johan Cruyff Stadium near the club’s training ground.
Barcelona are now aiming to reopen the Camp Nou for their La Liga clash against Valencia on September 13 or 14. Their first three league fixtures of the season will be played away from home.
However, the club has not guaranteed that the stadium will be ready in time for that fixture or for a potential home Champions League match scheduled before then.
Barcelona have been playing at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic hill since the renovation began in 2022. The initial plan was to return in November 2024, coinciding with the club’s 125th anniversary, but construction delays have repeatedly pushed the timeline back.
The ongoing redevelopment of Camp Nou is expected to cost around €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion). Until full completion, which is now scheduled for summer 2026, the stadium will operate at a reduced capacity of around 60,000 seats before eventually expanding to 105,000.
