UEFA has approved FC Barcelona’s request to begin their 2025/26 Champions League league stage away from home, with the Camp Nou not fit for purpose by the time the competition kicks off.
The decision means Barcelona’s opening group match will take place on the road, with their first home fixture not scheduled until Matchday 2 at the earliest, on September 30 or October 1. The ruling follows weeks of discussions between club officials and UEFA after it became clear that Barcelona were struggling to obtain the required Certificate of Completion of Works and First Occupancy License from city authorities. Without those documents, the stadium cannot legally host competitive fixtures.
Barcelona had already been forced to move the Joan Gamper Trophy away from Camp Nou, underlining the ongoing difficulties. UEFA’s strict regulations also state that all group-stage home matches must be staged in the same venue, meaning Barcelona had to either guarantee Camp Nou’s readiness for the full campaign or nominate a temporary alternative.
For now, the fallback option remains the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Montjuïc), where Barça played throughout the 2023/24 and 2024/25 season during the early stages of renovation. The stadium is approved as a UEFA venue until February, ensuring there is no risk of disruption if Camp Nou is not cleared in time.
A double-edged sword for Barcelona
On one hand, it can be seen as a favour. By starting away, the club buys precious time to get the revamped Spotify Camp Nou fully cleared for use. It avoids the logistical nightmare of playing an early “home” game at Montjuïc, and instead gives Barça the chance to make their Champions League return at Camp Nou in front of their fans. Psychologically, that’s a huge boost for the players and supporters alike.
On the other hand, it could also be viewed as a disadvantage. Playing away on Matchday 1 adds early pressure, especially if the fixture is against one of the tougher group opponents. Dropping points immediately could put them on the back foot in what is always a fine-margin group stage. And if Camp Nou still isn’t ready in time, the whole exercise may simply delay the inevitable switch to Montjuïc, disrupting preparations further.
Barcelona will now submit their final venue plan to UEFA by the end of August, with hopes still high of hosting Champions League nights at a refurbished Spotify Camp Nou before the group stage concludes.