FC Barcelona will be without its stadium for longer than expected. The modernization work is not progressing according to schedule. There are growing doubts as to whether the team will even start the next season in the renovated stadium.

Construction delays change strategy

Spotify Camp Nou was supposed to open partially for 60,000 fans, but these plans have been scrapped. According to sport.es, the club decided that the presence of fans during the construction of the third ring of stands was incompatible with safety. As a result, the stadium will remain closed until the full construction is completed. Final work on the roof is scheduled for summer 2026, which means a longer playing period for Montjuïc.

The absence of Camp Nou is hitting the club's budget. The Barcelona authorities were counting on ticket and season ticket revenue to help stabilise the finances. The club even sold tickets for matches in the new stadium from the second half of the season, but it is now clear that the return will not happen so quickly.

© Espai Héctor | The current state of Camp Nou does not give much hope for FC Barcelona’s quick return.

When will Camp Nou open its gates again?

There is no clear answer yet as to when Barcelona fans will be able to return to their stadium. Much depends on the progress of the work on the third stand and the roof. One thing is certain: the club will not take any risks until the conditions are completely safe. It is therefore possible that Camp Nou will remain closed for longer than the current schedule predicts.

As part of the project restructuring, FC Barcelona has awarded the VIP area construction contracts to several construction companies. This is to speed up the pace of work and ensure that it is completed according to the new schedule. Work in these sectors is expected to begin in the coming weeks and last for approximately three months.

Qataris take over VIP areas

The city of Barcelona has signed a deal with the Qatari company Forta Advisors to grant it exclusive seating at the new stadium. Forta Advisors, which is affiliated with the Al Thani family, paid 30 mln € for the privilege, which grants it the rights to luxury VIP seating for 30 years.

Forta Advisors is a London-based company founded in May 2024 and is managed by Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani and Ali Abdulla Al-Thawadi. Both have strong ties to the Qatari government and have been investing in football for years. The Al Thani family is known for its influence on Málaga CF, Paris Saint-Germain and the organisation of the World Cup in Qatar. Now, their interests also include Barcelona and Camp Nou.

Joan Laporta's decision to cooperate with the Qataris is controversial. In the past, the president of Barcelona strongly criticised the club's ties with the country, accusing previous boards of violating the values of FC Barcelona through sponsorship by Qatar Airways. Today, however, under financial pressure, he is opening the club to investments from the Middle East.