Barcelona’s long-awaited return to Camp Nou was expected to take a major step forward with the hosting of the Joan Gamper Trophy at reduced capacity this summer. That was the plan but growing concerns now surround whether the iconic stadium will actually be ready in time.
The €1.5 billion Espai Barça redevelopment project, which began two years ago, has already faced several delays and complications. Recent images and videos circulating online have cast doubt over the stadium’s readiness, raising fears of another major setback. The situation has been further muddled by a surprising statement from Barcelona City Council, who admitted they were caught off guard by the club’s confidence in announcing their return date.
The club had marked August 10th as their provisional comeback, using the Joan Gamper Trophy as a symbolic reopening. However, the real goal remains September 14th, when Barcelona are scheduled to play their first La Liga home fixture back at Camp Nou against Valencia. With no option to return to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, which is unavailable, pressure is mounting for visible and swift progress on the stadium site.
Barcelona must obtain two permits before reopening Camp Nou to the public: an activity license and an initial occupancy license. While the former is expected to be straightforward, the City Council has refused to grant the latter unless construction on the first and second levels of the stadium is fully completed, a task many believe could still take significant time.
Recent updates on social media have raised fresh concerns over the readiness of Camp Nou ahead of Barcelona’s planned return. Footage and photos from the site reveal that essential infrastructure , including restrooms, remains incomplete, while large sections of the concourse surrounding the stadium have yet to be concreted.
These developments paint a troubling picture for a venue that is expected to host over 100,000 fans at full capacity. With just a month remaining until the proposed reopening for the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10, the scale of work still required is believed to be significant. From structural finishes to safety checks and public accessibility, the images suggest that Barcelona may be racing against time.
If construction delays continue, Barcelona could face serious logistical and reputational challenges heading into the new season. The countdown is on, but as things stand, the return to Camp Nou may not be as close as initially hoped.