Camp Nou Renovation Delay: Barcelona's European Match Postponed

Barcelona's Camp Nou return delayed again due to administrative issues

Barcelona's renovation of Camp Nou hits another snag. The club announces a delay in obtaining necessary permits, forcing them to play their Champions League match against Olympiacos at the Olympic Stadium.

“The club is continuing to work to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Camp Nou in the coming days...”

Barcelona's highly anticipated return to Camp Nou has hit another snag. The Spanish champions announced on Thursday that their iconic stadium won't be ready to host the Champions League match against Olympiacos on October 21, due to ongoing administrative issues. This delay marks another setback in the renovation project, which has been plagued by repeated delays and safety concerns.

The city's fire department has raised concerns over evacuation routes and other safety issues, forcing Barcelona to play their Champions League match against Olympiacos at the Olympic Stadium instead. This will be a significant change for the team, which had been hoping to make a triumphant return to their revamped stadium. The delay also means that Barcelona will continue to play at the Olympic Stadium or the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium near their training ground for the foreseeable future.

Barcelona was defeated 2-1 by Paris Saint-Germain at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday. Following the match, the club announced that they are still working on obtaining the necessary permits to open the Camp Nou. “The club is continuing to work to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Camp Nou in the coming days,” Barca said in a statement.

The renovation works at Camp Nou have been ongoing for over two years, and the stadium is still not ready to host matches, even with a reduced capacity. Despite the delays, the final capacity of the Camp Nou is expected to be 105,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in Europe.

Barcelona had initially planned to return to Camp Nou for the 2025/26 La Liga season, with a phased reopening starting with a match against Valencia on September 14. However, the club is still awaiting final validation from local authorities to confirm the return. The renovation project's completion is expected by the summer of 2026.

The highly anticipated return of Barcelona to Camp Nou has been delayed again due to ongoing construction issues. The city's fire department has raised concerns over evacuation routes and other safety issues, forcing the club to play their home matches elsewhere. Initially, the stadium's grand reopening was slated for November 2024, but the project has faced several setbacks.

Barcelona has been playing their home games at the Olympic Stadium and the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff stadium while the renovation works are being completed. They played their first two home matches at the Johan Cruyff stadium against Valencia and Getafe. The club had to play away for the first three weeks of the LaLiga season to provide time to get the stadium ready.

The renovation project is estimated to cost around €1.45 billion, which will be covered by 20 investors through a financing deal with a flexible repayment structure. The repayment will start after the completion of the project, using income generated by the stadium, estimated to be around €247 million annually. The club expects to complete the project by June 2026, with a potential capacity of 105,000 seats.

Our home, from up close. SPOTIFY CAMP NOU 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/8IOCkbFQRJ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 21, 2025

What this means for Barcelona:

Temporary venues: Barcelona will play their upcoming matches at the Olympic Stadium or the Johan Cruyff Stadium, with the latter having a significantly lower capacity.

Reopening timeline: The exact reopening date for Camp Nou remains uncertain, but reports suggest it could happen in late November, potentially during the league match against Athletic Club on November 23.

Capacity and revenue: The delayed reopening means Barcelona will miss out on potential revenue and atmosphere during their matches, which could impact their financial performance.

Camp Nou Renovation Details:

Final capacity: The revamped Camp Nou is expected to have a final capacity of 105,000 seats.

Cost: The renovation project is estimated to cost around €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion).

Challenges: Barcelona faces challenges in meeting UEFA regulations, which require clubs to play all group stage home matches at one venue, unless special dispensation is granted.