Barcelona Racing Against Time as Camp Nou Return Deadline Looms
Barcelona could encounter another significant Camp Nou obstacle due to an approaching UEFA 'deadline' concerning the Champions League.
Barcelona have been conducting matches away from their legendary stadium since 2023 due to the extensive renovation work that continues. Complete construction remains distant, but the club aimed to reopen with limited capacity this season, following two years at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Earlier plans to stage this summer's Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou were unsuccessful, failing to obtain necessary city council authorization—the Aug. 10 fixture against Como had to be held at Estadi Johan Cruyff instead, with its modest capacity of only 6,000.
La Liga has approved Barcelona's petition to play their opening three matches this season—Mallorca, Levante, Rayo Vallecano—away from home. Late August brings a break for the season's first international window of 2025–26, with no additional fixture until Sep. 14.
This date represents when Barcelona anticipate receiving authorization to return to Camp Nou, though they must also address a separate stadium challenge.
No certainties exist for that timeline, and UEFA requires confirmation by Aug. 28 regarding where Barcelona will stage their Champions League league phase matches, totaling four games. MARCA reports that rules prohibit Barcelona from changing their home venue during a competition round. Should the Catalans fail to host their initial league phase match at Camp Nou, they cannot utilize the stadium for Champions League games until the knockout rounds commence in the season's latter half.
Barcelona reportedly feel optimistic about obtaining the necessary city council permit by Sep. 14, having reduced their original plans to accommodate 60,000 spectators by half, requiring only the Gol Sud and Tribuna sections in the primary stand to be finished and safety-approved.
However, the UEFA 'deadline' arrives two weeks before the first intended La Liga match at Camp Nou and is merely 13 days away. Should they fail to guarantee Camp Nou availability by then, Barça risk conducting the entire league phase at Johan Cruyff, which would prove catastrophic for income and future financial planning given the restricted fan attendance capacity.