Barcelona announce Camp Nou return amid renovations
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BARCELONA — Barcelona announced on Wednesday their long-awaited return to the new Camp Nou for an August 10 friendly after years of work to expand and modernize the iconic stadium.
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The traditional pre-season Joan Gamper Trophy match will only mark the stadium's partial reopening, with construction work continuing in various areas, the current Spanish champions said in a statement.
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This includes the completion of the new third tier, the dual VIP ring, the roof installation, interior spaces and development of the stadium's surrounding area.
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The Catalan giants have not confirmed the initial capacity, but local media reported that the available stands can hold 35,000 fans.
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'Barcelona takes a symbolic and emotional step into the future, reclaiming its home in a new era that will culminate with the complete inauguration of the new stadium,' the club said.
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Barca will have another month to continue work on the stadium after requesting to play their first three La Liga games of the upcoming season away from home.
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After suffering several delays since beginning in 2023, the project dubbed 'Espai Barca' is due to finish in the summer of 2026 and boost the Camp Nou's capacity to 105,000.
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