The Spotify Camp Nou pitch is ready for football in 2025/26. After a week of work, the pitch of the Estadi's playing field has completed its installation, being the definitive green for the start of next season.
With the Joan Gamper Trophy (August 10) ruled out, there will be a month and a half for the new turf to settle before Barça's debut as host in LaLiga, in principle against Valencia on September 13 or 14.
The operators had installed the provisional turf last April, but this was only a test, although they even painted the lines of play. Barça did not rule out closing the 24/25 season back in Les Corts, although finally the works did not progress at the expected rate.
Nor have the necessary permits to reopen the Estadi arrived within the expected deadlines. Without the first occupancy license in the hands of the club, it was impossible to play the Gamper there. Finally, the match against Como of Italy will be played at the Johan Cruyff.
Barça is confident of starting 25/26 at the Spotify Camp Nou
These new delays, in fact, have cast doubt on the first team's return to the Spotify Camp Nou in September, to play the first half of 25/26 back home. The board maintains confidence in being able to inaugurate the work with an initial capacity of about 35,000 spectators this year, but keeping two stadiums open is totally ruled out.
In that sense, if according to the UEFA calendar Barcelona has to play the first matchday of the Champions League league phase as host (on September 16, 17 or 18) and the culé temple is not ready, it is likely that the team will return to Montjuïc at least until the end of the year.
The highest body of European football will send a new delegation in the coming weeks to assess the progress of the works. If UEFA does not approve the stadium, it will inevitably be necessary to play the round-robin league at the Lluís Companys.
For the fourth matchday of La Liga against Valencia, in fact, playing at the Johan Cruyff is also not ruled out to give a few more weeks to the works at the Estadi. In any case, everything will depend on the City Council giving the green light to the reopening of the Camp Nou with a partial capacity.
The works at Camp Nou maintain 24-hour shifts
This week, Barça carried out a 'technical and operational' test "with the aim of verifying the correct functioning of the main facilities and validating the internal procedures usual on match days".
The tests focused on the Tribuna and Gol Sud areas, which will receive the bulk of culé fans. Similarly, the City Council renewed again the permit for the operators to work 24 hours a day, from Monday to Friday.
This is the fifth time that the club has requested to extend this permit, currently valid until Friday, September 12, just before the match against Valencia. Similarly, the use of heavy machinery will be allowed in the night shifts inside and outside the Estadi. Will the club finally be able to return to Les Corts in September?
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