This is the week when FC Barcelona are due to play their first home game of the 2025/26 season. Yet it is still unclear which stadium will host the match. A final decision is expected to be taken and announced on Tuesday afternoon, after another – though not decisive – inspection of work at Spotify Camp Nou by the club’s management.

Lack of key documents delays return to Camp Nou

The club has not yet received the final works completion certificate, which must be submitted to the city authorities for them to issue the stadium’s first-use licence. In practice, this increases the likelihood that Sunday’s match against Valencia will be played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Nonetheless, both scenarios are being prepared in parallel after today’s meeting of all departments responsible for match organisation.

On Friday LaLiga gave its approval for the match to be played in Sant Joan Despí, provided certain technical requirements are met. These include installing VAR cameras suitable for Primera División fixtures, connecting fibre-optic lines and fine-tuning the pitch irrigation system. LaLiga envoys present today at Spotify Camp Nou will on Wednesday visit the Estadi Johan Cruyff for a final verification. According to the league, progress is positive and the club says all requirements have already been met and passed on to LaLiga.

© frank-jasperneite.de | Estadi Johan Cruyff

A match at Camp Nou would be “almost a miracle”

As of now, staging the Barça–Valencia game at Spotify Camp Nou with 27,000 available seats (main stand and part of the Gol Sud) would be – as Catalan media put it – almost a miracle.

The venue for the Valencia match could also determine where Barça will play their home fixtures until January. The club has several options up its sleeve – including a return to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where they played in previous seasons. In theory, Barça could go back there on 21 September for the Getafe game, having time to lay a new pitch after the Post Malone concert (12 September). However, the Getafe match could also be played at either Camp Nou or Johan Cruyff if permits are delayed.

© MM Groundhopping | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc)

Club working on logistics

All FC Barcelona departments are mobilised to prepare logistics at record speed regardless of which stadium is chosen. The differences involve security, VIP zones, boxes, the press stand and ticket sales organisation. Ticket distribution is currently the most anticipated announcement – if the match is at the Estadi Johan Cruyff only 6,000 tickets will be available. Only after this will the club present season ticket prices for the rest of the season.

Everything depends on when and under what conditions the club can return to Spotify Camp Nou or whether it will once again have to use the Estadi Olímpic. The club says it will begin gradually informing fans of details this week so that full clarity is achieved before the match against Valencia.