Rabat – FC Barcelona is expected to play its third pre-season friendly match against Swiss club FC Basel. The news comes as FC Barcelona canceled its scheduled match against Moroccan side Ittihad Tanger due to the Ceuta migration crisis.
Marca said today that Barcelona is in advanced talks to play Basel on Sunday, August 16, at the Swiss club’s home ground.
The report described an optimistic mood inside the Barcelona camp, with an official agreement expected within hours. Negotiations between the two clubs are close to completion, and an official announcement is expected shortly.
Beyond the Basel fixture, Barcelona is also preparing for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Egypt’s Al Ahly on August 19, 2026.
On Thursday, Barcelona confirmed that it was scrapping the Tangier match, which had been set for August 15.
The club cited “uncertainty and the current circumstances” following developments linked to the arrival of a large number of migrants in Ceuta, saying in its statement that going ahead with the fixture “would be inappropriate” given the situation.
The cancellation costs Barcelona an estimated €4.5 million ($4.9 million), the fee reportedly agreed for the club’s participation in the Morocco trip.
The decision left Hansi Flick’s technical staff needing to move quickly, with the German coach seeking an immediate alternative to preserve the team’s match fitness ahead of the LaLiga campaign, which opens on August 23 against Elche.
Flick has already overseen a triangular tournament in Udine, Italy, against Nottingham Forest and Udinese as part of the club’s preseason preparations.
