FC Barcelona has officially revealed their participation in the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup as part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season. This international pre-season tournament is set to take place on August 8 at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy.
The Blaugrana will compete with host Udinese and Premier League team Nottingham Forest in a three-club tournament geared towards enhancing match fitness ahead of their respective domestic seasons.
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Organized by Udinese, the tournament aims to promote the Friuli Venezia Giulia region through significant international sporting events.
This will be Barcelona’s first visit to Udine in nearly 21 years, with their only prior match in the city occurring on December 7, 2005, against Udinese during the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Part of Barcelona’s Pre-Season Schedule
For Hansi Flick’s team, the tournament presents a valuable chance to gain competitive minutes against high-caliber opponents as they prepare for the new season.
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Barcelona has already scheduled friendlies against CE Europa (July 24) and Birmingham City (July 31), with two additional matches now added to their pre-season agenda.
In addition to these fixtures, Barça is expected to play two more matches and will wrap up their pre-season preparations with the Joan Gamper Trophy match.
Tournament Format
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup will consist of three 45-minute matches played in a round-robin format.
The match schedule is as follows: Udinese vs Nottingham Forest, Barcelona vs Nottingham Forest, and then Udinese vs Barcelona.
Pre-season preparations are underway. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
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If any match is tied after 45 minutes, the outcome will be determined via a penalty shootout.
Teams are awarded three points for a win in normal time, two points for a win on penalties, and one point for a loss in penalties.
Matches will take place at the Bluenergy Stadium, which recently hosted the UEFA Super Cup and has become a frequent venue for major international football events.
The tournament also offers fans an opportunity to see Barcelona in action before the official start of the 2026/27 season, as Flick continues to prepare his squad for upcoming challenges.