Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou is delayed; the Valencia match will be at Estadi Johan Cruyff due to permit issues. The club is working to resolve administrative hurdles for the stadium’s opening. Barca’s next home game against Getafe is location TBD. Despite the setback, the team focuses on maintaining their strong start to the season.
Barcelona's highly anticipated return to the Camp Nou will have to wait. The LaLiga giants have officially confirmed that their upcoming match against Valencia will be held at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Initial plans targeted the Valencia game as the grand reopening of the newly renovated Camp Nou for the 2024-2025 season. However, the necessary administrative permits have not been secured in time, forcing the club to seek an alternative venue for their first home league fixture.
The Estadi Johan Cruyff, a 6,000-capacity stadium located adjacent to Barcelona's training facilities, will now play host to the clash against Valencia. The stadium is the regular home of Barcelona's women's team and the reserve side, adding an element of familiarity for the club. The women's team is scheduled to play Logrono at the same venue, just two days before the men's team takes the pitch.
FC Barcelona v Valencia to be played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff with attendance reserved exclusively for Club Members.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 9, 2025
The club released an official statement addressing the change of venue: "The match against Valencia will not yet be able to take place at the Spotify Camp Nou. The club is working intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of Spotify Camp Nou in the coming weeks."
Barcelona embarked on an ambitious project to increase the Camp Nou's capacity to over 100,000, temporarily relocating their home matches to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic. The initial timeline aimed for a return to the Camp Nou last November, with a reduced capacity of around 50,000. Those plans were later revised, extending their stay at the Olympic Stadium for the entirety of the last two seasons.
The Olympic Stadium in Montjuic is unavailable this week due to a Post Malone concert. This unavailability further complicated the situation, leaving the Estadi Johan Cruyff as the only viable option for the Valencia match.
Looking ahead, Hansi Flick's team is scheduled to face Getafe on September 21. The location for that fixture remains unconfirmed, pending the acquisition of the necessary permits for the Camp Nou.
Despite the stadium situation, Barcelona has enjoyed a solid start to the LaLiga season. The team has recorded two wins and one draw in their opening three matches, placing them fourth in the league table, just two points behind league leaders Real Madrid. The team's strong performance on the pitch is a positive sign for the club as they navigate the challenges surrounding their stadium situation.
The delay in returning to Camp Nou is a setback for Barcelona and its fans. The club has invested significant resources into the renovation project, and the anticipation for the reopening has been building for months. The move to Estadi Johan Cruyff, while necessary, is a far cry from the grandeur and history of Camp Nou. The club hopes to resolve the permit issues quickly and finally welcome fans back to their iconic stadium in the coming weeks.
The situation highlights the complexities involved in large-scale construction projects, particularly when dealing with local authorities and administrative processes. Barcelona is working diligently to address the outstanding issues and ensure that the Camp Nou is ready to host matches as soon as possible.
The club's commitment to transparency and communication with its fans is evident in its regular updates on the stadium project. Barcelona understands the importance of keeping its supporters informed about the progress of the renovations and the challenges that have been encountered along the way.
As Barcelona prepares to face Valencia at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, the focus will be on securing a positive result and maintaining their strong start to the season. The players and coaching staff will be determined to overcome the stadium situation and deliver a memorable performance for the fans, even in the temporary setting.