Barcelona Forced to Cancel Opening Pre-Season Clash - Here's What Went Wrong
Barcelona's preseason preparations for the 2025–26 campaign suffered a significant setback as the club confirmed they will not be traveling to Japan for their originally planned preseason kickoff match on Sunday, July 27.
What should have been a day of celebration for Barcelona following the official confirmation of new acquisition Marcus Rashford instead turned sour due to unexpected complications.
Just hours following Rashford's presentation, Barcelona issued a statement confirming the cancellation of their scheduled fixture against Vissel Kobe in Japan, attributing the decision to severe contractual violations by the event organizer.
"Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promotor," the statement read.
"The club will consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea, where two games are scheduled against FC Seoul (31 July) and Daegu FC (4 August), if certain conditions are met by the promotor. If these conditions are met, then the club will travel to South Korea in the coming days."
In an interview with Jijantes, Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste stated: "We are working to go to Korea. We are not going to Japan because they have not respected the club; we defend the club's interests."
Hansi Flick's squad was set to depart Barcelona for Japan on Thursday, July 24, to commence their Asian preseason campaign. The match cancellation means Barça will remain at home, continuing training at their Ciutat Esportiva facility while awaiting developments.
The Japan trip cancellation and doubts over the South Korea tour pose potential financial consequences for a club in urgent need of revenue generation. Additionally, Flick's seasonal preparation strategy faces disruption, while players seeking to make their mark during preseason find their opportunities at risk.
Should Barcelona also cancel the two South Korea fixtures, the Aug. 10 Joan Gamper Trophy encounter against Serie A side Como 1907 would remain as their sole preseason match before their La Liga season opener on Aug. 16.