Barcelona will make their long-awaited return to a partially reopened Camp Nou on August 10 for a friendly match, after years of extensive renovation work
Barcelona announced on Wednesday their long-awaited return to the new Camp Nou for an August 10 friendly match.
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This marks a significant milestone after years of extensive work to expand and modernize the iconic stadium.
The traditional pre-season Joan Gamper Trophy match will only signify the stadium’s partial reopening, as construction work will continue in various areas.
The current Spanish champions confirmed this in a statement, noting ongoing work includes the completion of the new third tier, the dual VIP ring, roof installation, interior spaces, and development of the stadium’s surrounding area.
While the Catalan giants haven’t confirmed the initial capacity for the friendly, local media reports suggest the available stands can accommodate 35,000 fans.
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“Barcelona takes a symbolic and emotional step into the future, reclaiming its home in a new era that will culminate with the complete inauguration of the new stadium,” the club stated.
Barcelona will have an additional month to continue work on the stadium, having requested to play their first three La Liga games of the upcoming season away from home.
The “Espai Barca” project, which began in 2023 and has experienced several delays, is projected to be fully completed by the summer of 2026.
Once finished, it will boost the Camp Nou’s capacity to 105,000.
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In the interim, Barcelona has played their home games at the smaller Montjuic Olympic stadium.
