When can Barcelona play at Camp Nou again?

Vishal Bhawani

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When can Barcelona play at Camp Nou again? image

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to Camp Nou has hit another roadblock — and the delays are starting to test everyone’s patience.

Fans were hoping to see the Blaugrana back at their iconic stadium by August 10 for the Joan Gamper Trophy. But instead of a grand homecoming, the match will now take place at the much smaller Estadi Johan Cruyff.

The reason? The club couldn’t get the green light from the city council.

Construction is still ongoing, and the necessary license hasn’t been approved yet. In short, the doors to Camp Nou remain closed, at least for now.

And it’s not just about that one friendly. Barcelona are still unsure if the stadium will be ready for the start of the new La Liga season — or even for Champions League nights under the lights.

With the clock ticking, the club is now considering a Plan B.

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The last match Barcelona played at Camp Nou

Getty Images

Camp Nou hasn’t seen a competitive game since May 28, 2023. That day, Barcelona beat Mallorca 3-0.

It was a farewell match of sorts, with goals from Ansu Fati and Robert Lewandowski, and goodbyes from Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

Since then, the stadium has been under serious renovation. The goal? Expand the capacity from 99,000 to 105,000 and update everything from seating to tech systems.

But as often happens with big construction projects, delays and red tape have slowed progress.

Now, the earliest possible return date is September 14, when Barca are set to face Valencia. But even that comes with a catch — the stadium may only be half full due to ongoing works.

If Camp Nou isn’t ready in time, Barcelona could be forced to return to Montjuic’s Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys, where they played last season. That move could hurt both atmosphere and finances.

Barcelona’s comeback at Camp Nou may not be far off — but it’s not quite onside yet.

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Vishal Bhawani

Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.

Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.