Barça's outlined plan for resuming matches at Camp Nou: set for a September 14 encounter with Valencia, amid an anticipated crowd of 27,000 spectators.
Barcelona, Spain - The much-anticipated return of FC Barcelona to their iconic Camp Nou stadium has been delayed, with the club's initial aim of a 60,000-seat capacity yet to be realised. The current timeline for reaching this goal remains uncertain and delayed, with no official confirmed return date as of mid-2025.
Acting mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Valls, has stated that inspections and obtaining certain permits are required to increase the stadium capacity. These include the ECA environmental control certificate, the certificate of completion of work, and the district permit (of Les Corts).
FC Barcelona and the city council are currently focused solely on the phase for 27,000 people. The stadium will open with this capacity, with a gradual increase planned in subsequent phases. The capacity for matches against Getafe, Real Sociedad, Girona, and Elche will be increased to 45,000 spectators. The second phase, which is the third tier, is scheduled for construction next year and will allow the stadium's capacity to be increased to almost 105,000 spectators.
However, the full reopening with the planned expanded capacity was initially expected for the 2025-26 season but remains unpredictable due to delays. The work is being carried out in phases, ensuring progress continues without full stadium closure for prolonged periods. Additional steps include technological updates, structural improvements, installing VIP boxes, refurbishing stands, anti-carbonation and waterproofing works, and upgrading transmission systems.
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed coordination with city authorities and construction company Limak but acknowledges that missed deadlines and lack of crucial permits have delayed the timeline. The return to Camp Nou is considered essential for financial and sporting reasons, and remaining at temporary venues is not a viable option.
Announced return dates, including August 10, 2025, have not been met or confirmed officially, and no event with a full 60,000-seat capacity has taken place yet. Full completion including the estimated 105,000 seats and final stadium technology updates may extend beyond 2025, with some estimates pointing toward 2026 or later.
In the meantime, FC Barcelona has requested to play the first three league matches away from home. The Olympic Stadium is hosting the Post Malone concert on September 12, making it impossible to have the stadium ready for the match against Valencia, which is expected during matchday 4 of the league against Valencia. The stadium for the first Champions League match has not been determined yet.
Despite the delays, FC Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, strongly defends the 'Plan A' of returning to Camp Nou despite it opening with fewer seats than Montjuic. He remains optimistic about the future of the stadium and the club, emphasising the importance of the project for both the city and the football community.
[1] Barcelona Información, "Barça no podrá jugar en el Camp Nou hasta septiembre", 12 de agosto de 2025. [2] Marca, "Barça no jugará en el Camp Nou hasta septiembre", 14 de agosto de 2025. [3] Mundo Deportivo, "Barça sigue sin fecha oficial para el regreso al Camp Nou", 15 de agosto de 2025. [4] Sport, "Barça sigue sin fecha oficial para el regreso al Camp Nou", 16 de agosto de 2025. [5] El País, "El proyecto de renovación del Camp Nou se retrasa y se podría prolongar hasta 2026", 17 de agosto de 2025.
- Despite the initial aim of a 60,000-seat capacity, the average attendance for FC Barcelona's home matches in the 2025-26 season might be limited due to the current progress of the Camp Nou renovation project, which may only reach a capacity of 27,000 spectators initially.
- The second phase of the Camp Nou renovation project, which includes constructing the third tier to increase the stadium's capacity to almost 105,000 spectators, is scheduled for construction next year, so European leagues such as Laliga might witness a surge in average attendance for FC Barcelona's home matches during the subsequent phases.
