Barcelona Prepares for Return to Camp Nou with Open Training Session

On Friday, Barcelona conducted an open training session at Spotify Camp Nou, attracting an impressive crowd of 23,000 supporters, marking a significant step towards their long-awaited return to the iconic stadium.

Since 2023, Barça has been playing at the Olympic Stadium due to a €1.5 billion refurbishment of Camp Nou, which has been ongoing. This training session served as a trial event in anticipation of resuming official matches later this month.

Club President Joan Laporta expressed optimism about returning for either the LaLiga match against Athletic Club on November 22 or the subsequent fixture against Alavés on November 29, coinciding with the club’s 126th anniversary. If these dates do not materialize, they are scheduled to face Atlético Madrid on December 2.

The exact return date hinges on obtaining a permit from the council to allow matches with an increased capacity of 45,401. Currently, Barça holds a license for only 25,991 attendees, granted in October, but will delay their official return until they can accommodate more fans.

While the first two tiers of the stadium are nearing completion, work continues on the third tier and the roof, with an estimated completion date set for 2027. The stadium’s capacity is expected to gradually increase until it reaches 105,000.

The timeline for the return has been extended beyond initial expectations, with the club originally aiming for a late 2024 return. Earlier this year, hopes for a comeback were renewed, only to be delayed again until the start of the current season in September.

Due to delays in obtaining necessary permits, Barcelona played their first two games of the season at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff, as the Olympic Stadium was unavailable. They have since returned to the Olympic venue for their last five home matches, hoping that Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Elche marks the end of their temporary relocation.