Barcelona take key step towards Camp Nou return as license granted but first game back may be limited to just 25,000 capacity

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have taken a crucial step toward returning to Spotify Camp Nou for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como on August 10. On Thursday, the Barcelona City Council's Approvals Plenary Session officially approved the modification of the stadium’s Activity and Construction Licenses, a key milestone ahead of the stadium’s partial reopening.

With the essential construction phase expected to finish by late July, the club now awaits a First Occupancy License. Although originally targeting a 60,000 capacity, Barca will settle for 25,000–35,000 spectators due to safety regulations, with either the north or south ends remaining closed. The club continues to coordinate with city and fire officials to finalise access logistics. A full operational drill with internal staff is set for July 28th to ensure all systems, locker rooms, media areas, and security, are ready, even as some construction, like the Lateral footbridge, remains ongoing.

Laia Bonet, the Deputy Mayor, stated that the reopening will be conducted in multiple phases and explained why the Catalans have not been granted the First Occupancy License just yet. "One for 62,000 spectators and another for 105,000," she said while speaking about the two phases. "The club is currently working on the works for the first phase, which includes the basement, the first and second tiers, and therefore, we have done everything we needed to do with this necessary but not sufficient previous step. The next step is the First Occupancy License, which allows the stadium to be occupied on any day and the works that make up the basement, the first and second tiers must be completed. The club is working on them and they are not finished yet, so we cannot yet grant the First Occupancy License."

Images showcasing the ongoing transformation of Spotify Camp Nou have surfaced across social media, with the club periodically sharing official updates. Recent progress includes the installation of new seating and the laying of fresh turf on the pitch, marking significant milestones in the renovation process. However, despite these visible advancements, the complete redevelopment of the stadium is not expected to be finalized until 2026.

The players will return to pre-season duty next week, with the club set to tour South Korea and Japan to play their pre-season games. They will play their first game of the 2025-26 season on August 16, away at Mallorca.