Barcelona's Camp Nou Homecoming Under Threat as City Council Debates Future

Barcelona's highly anticipated homecoming to Camp Nou for the Joan Gamper Trophy match set for August 10 faces uncertainty.

Sources from Spain indicate that Barça has yet to provide the necessary paperwork to Barcelona's City Council for securing the permit required to stage matches at the refurbished Camp Nou.

Barcelona had originally planned to accommodate a limited crowd of 60,000 supporters for the Joan Gamper Trophy, but with significant construction activities still ongoing in various sections, the club shifted focus to securing approval for 30,000 spectators. However, even this reduced figure may prove overly ambitious.

Additional reports reveal that within Barcelona's inner circles, confidence is low regarding obtaining the permit before week's end—the crucial cutoff point for match preparations to proceed. Consequently, there's mounting concern that Barcelona may be unable to stage their final pre-season fixture at Camp Nou.

Barcelona's primary objective is ensuring Camp Nou's readiness and securing city council approval to host their inaugural La Liga home match of the campaign during September's second weekend.

Just days following that, Barcelona would likely need to stage their Champions League league phase opener. This represents the most critical timeline, as UEFA prohibits teams from switching home venues during the competition's initial round. This requirement means Camp Nou must be prepared for Barça's European home debut, otherwise they'll be forced to play the entire league phase at an alternative location.

With Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys—Barcelona's venue for the previous two campaigns—scheduled to host a concert on August 9, circumstances are aligning for Barcelona to potentially stage their final pre-season encounter at Estadi Johan Cruyff, which accommodates 6,000 supporters.