Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the Camp Nou has been delayed once more, with the Spanish champions confirming the stadium will not be ready to host their next Champions League clash against Olympiacos on October 21.
The Catalan giants had hoped to secure the necessary permits from the city council in time for their third European group-stage game, but instead, the match will take place at the Olympic Stadium, where they also suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
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“The club is continuing to work to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Camp Nou in the coming days,” Barcelona said in a statement.
More than two years after renovation work began, the iconic stadium remains unfinished and cannot yet host matches, even at a reduced capacity. Once completed, the revamped Camp Nou will have a final capacity of 105,000.
The reopening was originally scheduled for November 2024 but has been plagued by repeated delays. City fire authorities cited ongoing issues with evacuation routes and other safety requirements as reasons for withholding approval.
To buy extra time, Hansi Flick’s side began the La Liga season with three consecutive away fixtures before playing home games against Valencia and Getafe at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium near their training base.
Barcelona are investing an estimated €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion) into the Camp Nou rebuild, a project seen as central to the club’s long-term sporting and commercial ambitions.
