Barcelona consider further Camp Nou delays as new target set for Hansi Flick's men to play first game in renovated stadium

Barca are considering pushing back their return to the renovated Camp Nou, even as the First Occupation Licence is expected to be granted in the coming weeks, according to Sport. While the club could technically reopen the stadium in mid-October for fixture against Girona in La Liga, there is growing momentum behind waiting until November, when more seats will be available and revenues higher. The November 23 meeting with Athletic Club has emerged as the leading candidate for Barca’s first match back in their iconic home. 

At present, the Montjuic Olympic Stadium provides greater matchday capacity than Camp Nou could in October, with 50,000-plus attending recent fixtures. In contrast, an October reopening would allow for only 27,000 spectators under phase 1A of the licence. By November, the lateral stand could be completed, opening up around 45,000 seats. This figure comes close to Montjuic’s capacity but with the added benefit of generating higher income inside Camp Nou itself. The club also wants to minimise construction interruptions, as hosting games earlier could slow progress on the renovation.

The match against Athletic, scheduled for November 22 after the international break, has become a symbolic target for the return. By then, Barcelona hope to have phase 1B in place, allowing nearly double the October capacity and potentially reaching 62,000 seats if phase 1C approval is secured in time. Club directors see the game as the best balance between fan demand, financial sense, and construction continuity. It would also offer Flick’s team the chance to reintroduce themselves at Camp Nou in front of a significantly larger crowd than an earlier date would allow.

Until a final decision is made, Barca's current plan is to continue playing their home games at Montjuic, including the upcoming clashes with Olympiacos in the Champions League, which UEFA has listed as being set for Camp Nou, and Elche in La Liga. A definitive timeline for the Camp Nou return will depend on the board’s approval once the licence is granted. For now, November remains the strongest option, giving Barcelona the chance to mark their homecoming in front of tens of thousands more fans while keeping the renovation on schedule. But, the immediate focus of Hansi Flick and Co. is on their next massive challenge pose by the European champions PSG in the Champions League.