FC Barcelona will not host their upcoming La Liga home game at the rebuilt Spotify Camp Nou, the club has confirmed. Instead, the match against Valencia on Sunday, September 14, will take place at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium.
The decision comes after Barcelona were unofficially informed by the City Council that the originally scheduled fixture at Montjuïc cannot proceed due to La Mercè festivities, including a fireworks display that would affect fan access and egress.
Camp Nou still not ready
Even without the festival conflict, the new Camp Nou remains incomplete. City Council technicians recently inspected the site and determined it does not yet meet conditions for hosting a match. The club is still awaiting the Final Construction Certificate from the auditing firm Dekra, which would allow them to receive the First Partial Occupancy Permit.
This permit is required to open the South Goal and Grandstand sections, which were expected to be inaugurated when Barça host Getafe. Until then, administrative approval remains a barrier to any official home fixture at the stadium.
UEFA pressures and backup plans
The delay complicates Barcelona’s schedule beyond La Liga. UEFA requires the club to host a domestic league match at Camp Nou before playing their Champions League opener against PSG there. Failure to meet this condition would push back their European debut at the rebuilt stadium.
To mitigate risk, Barcelona extended their lease at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys until February 2026. However, the venue is unavailable this weekend due to a Post Malone concert, meaning the Johan Cruyff Stadium will temporarily host the match.
La Liga has granted an exception to allow the game at a stadium below its minimum 8,000-seat capacity requirement, provided Barcelona implement several measures, including VAR installation, upgraded irrigation, and reliable fibre-optic connectivity. Tickets will be sold to club members via a lottery system.
Long-running delays
Barcelona’s home return has been repeatedly postponed. The club initially targeted November of last year, then April–May 2025, for the stadium debut, including for the Gamper Trophy and even the Clásico, but all plans fell through.
The Johan Cruyff Stadium, inspired by the early 20th-century ground “The Spitfire,” will mark the first time in over a century that Barça play a competitive match in a stadium of such limited capacity.
Club statement
“FC Barcelona announces that the La Liga Matchday 4 match against Valencia CF will not be played at Spotify Camp Nou,” the club said. “We are working intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the stadium in the near future. The match will be played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.”
