Barcelona to play home opener at training ground as Camp Nou renovation delays continue

Barcelona will start their 2025/26 LaLiga home campaign at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, their training ground venue, after renovations at Camp Nou fell behind schedule. The Catalan giants will face Valencia on Sunday in front of a reduced crowd of 6,000 fans.

The club announced the move on Tuesday, explaining that ongoing work at Camp Nou, now branded Spotify Camp Nou, has delayed the stadium’s reopening. The Johan Cruyff Stadium, located in Barcelona’s Sant Joan Despi training complex, will serve as a temporary home.

“This decision allows us to continue our LaLiga campaign while construction continues at Camp Nou,” the club said in a statement. “We thank our members and fans for their understanding during this complex yet exciting process of returning to the new stadium.”

LaLiga has granted Barcelona a special exemption to host the fixture at a venue with fewer than the usual 15,000-seat minimum requirement. League officials have inspected the Johan Cruyff Stadium over the past week and mandated essential upgrades, including VAR camera installations, to ensure the venue meets competition standards.

Barcelona had hoped to return to Camp Nou with a reduced capacity of 27,000 spectators for the opening game, but local authorities did not approve the necessary permits. An alternative venue, the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, was unavailable due to a concert by Post Malone that had left the pitch in poor condition.

Camp Nou renovation

Renovation work at Camp Nou has been ongoing since 2022, with the project now nine months behind its original schedule. Once completed, the stadium will be the largest in Europe, boasting a capacity of 105,000. The total cost of the project is estimated at £1.5 billion, financed partly through 20 investors to help offset the club’s financial struggles.

The redevelopment aims to modernise the stadium’s structure, add a retractable roof with solar panels, expand seating, improve VIP facilities, and create commercial and entertainment spaces around the stadium. Final works include completing the dual VIP ring, installing the third tier, and finishing urban redevelopment projects in the surrounding area.

Barcelona have faced repeated delays in their return to Camp Nou. In July 2025, the club announced plans to reopen the stadium in early August for the Joan Gamper Trophy, an annual friendly tournament, but local authorities required additional safety inspections and administrative permits. Reports indicate that more than 200 safety issues were found during recent inspections, further delaying the return.

Since March 2023, Barcelona have not played a competitive match at Camp Nou. They temporarily moved to the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, which has a capacity of 56,000, significantly lower than Camp Nou. The partial relocation meant many season-ticket holders had to cancel or adjust their arrangements.

Financial and operational challenges

The delays at Camp Nou have coincided with financial challenges for Barcelona. As of mid-2024, the club carried an estimated €1.3 billion in debt, with €585 million set to mature in 2028. Limited financial flexibility has affected transfer budgets and slowed renovation work, with the club only able to spend about €15 million on new players for the summer of 2025.

Despite these constraints, Barcelona are determined to complete the stadium redevelopment. The club aims to gradually increase capacity to full occupancy while boosting revenue through hospitality packages, VIP suites, and commercial spaces. Early reports suggest hospitality packages could generate up to $130 million annually.

Timeline of the renovation

July 2024: Construction work intensified. Light beams were installed, and the iconic Blaugrana mosaic pattern was restored.
October 2024: Barcelona announced potential delays, citing administrative procedures and safety protocols.
December 2024: The planned March 2025 reopening was postponed to September 2025, with initial occupancy capped at 60,000.
February 2025: A request to extend the use of the Olympic Stadium was approved to allow renovation completion.
May 2025: Financial constraints and material shortages caused further delays.
June 2025: LaLiga allowed Barcelona to start the season with away fixtures while renovations continued.
September 2025: Valencia match scheduled at Johan Cruyff Stadium due to pending permits and inspections at Camp Nou.

Looking Ahead

Barcelona hope to return to Camp Nou for their second home fixture of the season against Getafe on 21 September. However, this depends on completing pending safety inspections and obtaining city council approvals.

The club is also planning a tribute match for Lionel Messi at the renovated stadium and has confirmed ongoing work to improve fan experience, stadium technology, and accessibility.

While fans are eager to return to the legendary Camp Nou, the club continues to manage operational and financial hurdles to ensure a safe and fully functional venue. Once completed, the stadium will reaffirm Barcelona’s position among Europe’s elite clubs, providing both sporting prestige and increased commercial opportunities.

For now, Barcelona’s Johan Cruyff Stadium will act as a temporary home as the club navigates one of the most complex phases in its history.

3D Creation of Barcelona’s New Spotify Camp Nou Stadium Causes Sensation: Europe’s Largest Football Stadium

A 3D creation of Barcelona’s new Spotify Camp Nou stadium completion has caused uproar and excitement among football fanatics. The excitement continues to build over the construction and progress of the new revamped stadium that commenced construction last summer.

Renovation plans of the stadium are on track with the stadium expected to open its doors soon in the year. The construction timeline seeks to ensure that the first team makes their return to the iconic arena in November. In recent updates, Barcelona has released pictures of the revamped stadium once the project is complete. Some of the fans have gone further to create a 3D view of the stadium which explicitly shows how the stadium will look like. The Spotify Camp Nou stadium is set to have a renewed look that every Catalan fan and player alike anticipates to experience.

The Scope of the New Spotify Camp Nou Stadium Completion

The revamp project on the Spotify Camp Nou stadium aims to ensure that the stadium meets the world-class standards of a football stadium. The main features of the new design project entail the construction of a new third tier from scratch. It will include a uniform height along the entire external perimeter, increasing the stadium’s capacity. Once completed, the stadium will be able to hold more than 105,000 spectators, a significant increase from 99,345. The project also includes the creation of a VIP ring between the second and third tiers of the stands. It will also ensure that all spectator seats in the stadium are roofed. Furthermore, a panoramic screen will also be created under the canopy, running along its inner edge. Externally, the venue will be given an open feel with wide terraces.

The Cost of the Revamp Project Design

The Camp Nou stadium completion costs took into consideration the investment costs that were rising exponentially. The internal referendum on the project cost was held at the end of 2021, the budget was placed at no more than €1.5 billion. Of these, €900 million is to go towards upgrading the Spotify Camp Nou stadium. The stadium redevelopment project is going as scheduled with the funds being used towards its upgrade. The stadium redevelopment is to be completed between 2022 and 2025. The stadium upgrade contract was awarded to Nikken Sekkei as the project’s main contractor. The eventual design of the new stadium was prepared by architects from construction companies such as IDIOM, b720, and Nikken Sekkei.

The Progress of the Construction Project

Preparatory works on the new Spotify Camp Nou stadium started as early as July 2022. It is worth mentioning that a sponsorship agreement has also been in place since July 2022. Under this, the name of the venue has been changed to Spotify Camp Nou. Since September 1, 2022, the demolition of a section of the stand behind the south gate has been underway. The scope of work included the removal of elements in the rear of this stand, along with the dismantling of the central section of the top floor of the auditorium. This was to be followed by the construction of new stairs and escape routes to restore the use of the seats not included in the remodeling on the first and second floors.