Barcelona’s iconic home, Camp Nou, remains a construction site for longer than initially anticipated. With setbacks piling up and temporary arrangements nearing expiration, the Catalan club is contemplating a strategic request to La Liga—beginning the 2025-26 season exclusively with away fixtures.
This move would buy time for final preparations at their historic venue, as delays continue to disrupt a project that was initially pegged as a landmark celebration for the club’s 125th anniversary.
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A Project Overshadowed by Persistent Delays
Barcelona’s original roadmap charted a return to Camp Nou by November 2024, aiming to align the homecoming with a century-and-a-quarter milestone. However, unforeseen construction issues and administrative slowdowns have now extended the timeline by almost a year.
According to sources within the club—who spoke anonymously to The Athletic to protect their positions—the new projected return date stands at September 2025. This ten-month deviation has forced the club to rethink how to approach the next La Liga campaign.
The Montjuic Puzzle
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, commonly referred to as Montjuic, served as the club’s temporary home while renovations continued at Camp Nou. Barcelona’s current lease on Montjuic is scheduled to expire in May 2025, with no further extensions possible due to pre-booked events at the venue.
Major artists such as Aitana, Guns N’ Roses, Blackpink, and Post Malone are slated to perform at Montjuic between June and September 2025. The stadium will be unavailable for football purposes during that period, leaving Barcelona without a temporary base if the Camp Nou isn’t ready by the league’s kickoff.
Precedent Set by Rivals
This wouldn’t be the first instance of La Liga adjusting its calendar to accommodate a club’s stadium renovation timeline. Real Madrid were allowed to play their initial three matches of the 2022 season away from home while final touches were applied to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Similarly, during the ongoing 2024-25 season, Barcelona received league approval to backload home fixtures in anticipation of returning to Camp Nou mid-season. The precedent gives weight to Barcelona’s expected request and highlights La Liga’s flexibility when faced with logistical hurdles involving its top clubs.
Construction: Race Against Time
With rising urgency, Barcelona and construction company Limak have accelerated their efforts. The revamped Camp Nou, which will boast a seating capacity of 105,000—making it Europe’s largest stadium—is now scheduled for full completion in June 2026. However, partial functionality is expected earlier.
To expedite progress, the city council granted extended work permits last month. Construction crews are now authorized to operate from 8 AM on Mondays to midnight on Fridays, with additional hours on Saturdays from 10 AM to 8 PM. These relaxed regulations are effective until April 30, with discussions pending to potentially prolong the arrangement throughout summer.
Barcelona is reportedly satisfied with the city council’s cooperation, which has been instrumental in maintaining momentum on the project. According to club insiders, maintaining this working pace through summer is crucial for ensuring the stadium’s readiness before the 2025-26 season kicks off.
Timeline of Delays: A Recap
The club’s admission of delay came publicly in October 2024, acknowledging that their return to Camp Nou would be postponed to the latter half of the season. A month later, the expected return date was deferred again—this time to February 2025.
By January 2025, the club had extended its lease with Montjuic until April 23, 2025, notifying its socios via internal communication. A final update followed in March, confirming that Camp Nou would remain unfit to host games for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Barcelona has been playing at Montjuic since June 2023, with significant matches like the upcoming El Clasico on May 11 scheduled to be held there. The 56,000-seater stadium has provided a stopgap solution, but its limitations—both in capacity and commercial opportunity—have been keenly felt by the club.
Financial Implications of the Delay
Camp Nou’s delayed reopening doesn’t just inconvenience matchday logistics—it carries substantial financial ramifications. The club is currently over La Liga’s salary limit, which restricts their ability to register new players.
This predicament is tied to the treatment of revenue from the sale of VIP seats in the revamped stadium. Barcelona raised €100 million from Middle Eastern investors through VIP hospitality packages. However, since the seats are not yet constructed, audit firm Crowe ruled the income as non-countable in the current budget.
Club insiders emphasize that builders are now prioritizing the completion of these VIP sections. Once finished, the €100m could be officially included in the club’s financial records, thereby easing pressure on the wage bill and enabling a more flexible transfer policy in the upcoming window.
Laporta’s Push and VIP Trials
Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently paid a visit to the under-construction stadium, where he tested out the prototype VIP seating alongside Limak president Nihat Özdemir. The move is symbolic, underscoring both the urgency and the club’s commitment to accelerating progress.
Club officials are banking on the swift completion of these high-value areas to tip the scales in their favor during financial assessments. A return to Camp Nou—however partial—would mark a turning point in Barcelona’s battle for economic stability.
La Liga’s Next Dilemma?
With Montjuic unavailable and Camp Nou potentially still in limbo by early August 2025, La Liga will soon face a critical scheduling decision. Will they greenlight a front-loaded away calendar for Barcelona, similar to Real Madrid’s accommodation in 2022?
Given the context and the significance of the ongoing renovation, such a move appears likely. While no official request has yet been lodged, sources expect Barcelona to initiate dialogue with La Liga in the coming weeks.
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FAQs
Why might Barcelona request to start the 2025-26 La Liga season with away games?
Barcelona may ask La Liga to schedule their initial 2025-26 fixtures away due to ongoing Camp Nou renovations, which are delayed and expected to complete only after the season starts.
When is Barcelona now expected to return to Camp Nou?
Sources indicate that Barcelona plans to return to a partially operational Camp Nou by September 2025, nearly 10 months later than originally scheduled.
What is the current status of Estadi Lluis Companys for the 2025-26 season?
Montjuic will not be available after May 2025, as it has been booked for concerts and other events during the summer, leaving Barcelona without a backup home.
How do Camp Nou delays impact Barcelona’s finances and player registrations?
The delays hinder Barcelona’s ability to include €100 million from VIP seat sales in their budget, affecting their salary cap and limiting new player registrations.
When will the Camp Nou renovation be fully completed?
The complete renovation of Camp Nou, including all VIP sections, is scheduled for June 2026, with ongoing efforts to maintain accelerated construction throughout 2025.
