Barcelona's Camp Nou nightmare continues! Return to iconic stadium may be delayed until January after Catalan club give up on August reopening

Barca's long-awaited return to the home stadium has been postponed once again, according to a report from AS. The club officially ruled out the planned August 10 reopening, which was set to host the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como. Ongoing delays in construction and issues with obtaining the necessary permits from the city council have forced the Catalan giants to reconsider their stadium plans for the start of the 2025-26 season. Despite recent commitments from president Joan Laporta and project leader Elena Fort, the board announced that the stadium will not be ready, with the club now eyeing a potential return as late as January 2026.

This latest setback continues a pattern of missed deadlines and overambitious forecasts throughout the renovation project. Initial promises included a November 29, 2024, return to coincide with the club’s 125th anniversary and hosting the Clasico in May 2025. Both deadlines have since passed unmet. Construction and permit challenges, compounded by external factors such as material shortages and municipal requirements, have persistently disrupted the timeline. Barcelona now faces financial implications due to lost matchday revenue and increased costs, as well as operational headaches related to fixture scheduling and UEFA stadium regulations.

The club originally established a penalty clause for delays with construction firm Limak, amounting to €1 million per day after the November 2024 deadline, but this will not be enforced due to so-called “unforeseen circumstances.” Barcelona have agreed with La Liga to play their first four matches of the 2025-26 season away from home to allow for further construction at Camp Nou. The club’s return will be phased, with Camp Nou reopening at reduced capacity (around 60,000 seats), as full completion of the new stadium, including the third tier and roof, is only expected in 2026.

Barcelona will begin the 2025-26 campaign at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, where they have played since mid-2023. The club aim to notify La Liga and UEFA of any venue changes by mid-August and faces pressure to settle their stadium situation before the Champions League kicks off in September. The latest estimate for returning to Camp Nou is now January 2026, but this remains subject to the pace of ongoing works and the fulfilment of licensing requirements. All planned home fixtures and key events will remain under review until an official reopening date is confirmed.