Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou is not imminent, despite receiving authorization to welcome 27,000 fans back to their stadium. The Blaugrana have been working towards this license since mid-July, initially promising to resume operations in early August for 45,000 fans.
This license enables Barcelona to utilize the main stand (Tribuna) and the South Goal stand (Gol Sur), with the current infrastructure supporting two tiers, as they have complied with the safety regulations set by the Barcelona City Council to complete ‘Phase 1A’. However, the club has decided to wait for ‘Phase 1B’, which would allow them to increase capacity to 47,000 by opening all four stands. The rationale behind this decision is that it is financially more beneficial for Barcelona to continue their matches at the Montjuic stadium, which has a capacity of 55,000.
When will Barcelona return to Camp Nou?
Even after obtaining the reopening license, Barcelona fans remain unsure about their next visit to Spotify Camp Nou. Institutional Vice-President Elena Fort expressed their satisfaction with the recent development in an interview with Sport.
“We received the license with both joy and caution. This is the first significant step, and we’re excited about returning to Spotify Camp Nou and finally being home again, though there is still much work ahead. We need to secure the permits for the second and third phases.”
“We will need to wait a bit longer for the full opening of the first and second tiers. Securing this next permit may pose additional challenges, but all parties involved are collaborating effectively to expedite the process.”
When asked for further details, Fort’s responses remained vague, indicating that some reports suggest a delay until 2026. Barcelona will continue to play at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for their upcoming home fixtures against Girona, Olympiakos, and Elche.
“We expect that obtaining the license for the second phase will be easier given the experience we’ve garnered, and it is less technically complex,” she noted, while refraining from committing to specific timelines. “We will strive to ensure the return happens at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Defending construction group Limak
Controversy has also emerged surrounding the Turkish construction firm Limak, which unexpectedly won the bidding for the Camp Nou renovation. Some reports have claimed other companies received higher evaluation scores, while Limak’s timeline for returning Camp Nou to operational status may be pushed back by at least a year. In response, Fort defended the decision to award the contract to Limak.
Breaking: Ferran Torres continues to have muscle discomfort and will not be able to play against Girona. @DavidIbanez5
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 17, 2025
“It’s easy to cast blame and spread rumors. If anyone believes that in a €1.5 billion project funded by American companies, the contractor would have free rein to manipulate the bidding process, they don’t fully grasp the scrutiny involved. This is one of the most closely monitored procurement processes out there, with oversight from both internal and external parties.”
Barcelona’s treasurer Ferran Olive mentioned that finance group Goldman Sachs, the club’s primary financial supporter for the Camp Nou renovation loan, approved Limak’s appointment.
“The club made the decision in conjunction with Goldman. Ultimately, Goldman made the final call,” Olive noted in an interview with Cadena SER, as reported by MD.