Barcelona Set to Return to Camp Nou with Limited Capacity

Barcelona is set to make a highly anticipated return to Spotify Camp Nou this weekend, having confirmed that their LaLiga match against Athletic Club will take place at the stadium.

While renovation work is still ongoing, the club received a crucial license from the local council on Monday, allowing them to host matches with a maximum capacity of 45,401.

Since the closure of Camp Nou for refurbishment in 2023, Barcelona has been playing their home games at the Olympic Stadium. Initially, the plan was for the team to return by the end of 2024. However, following a series of postponed timelines, the Spanish champions now have permission to welcome a significant number of fans back to their iconic venue.

Barcelona received an initial permit to reopen the stadium in October, but the capacity limit then was set at 25,991—a figure the club deemed insufficient for a financially viable return. To gauge fan interest, they organized a test event earlier in November, attracting nearly 23,000 supporters to an open training session, which club president Joan Laporta deemed a success.

Last week, Barça submitted documentation to request an increase in capacity, and they were pleased to receive approval on Monday.

The match against Athletic Club marks the beginning of an exciting period for the club, which includes an upcoming Champions League fixture against Chelsea, followed by home games against Alavés and Atlético Madrid, all of which can now be hosted at Camp Nou.

Despite this progress, it remains uncertain whether the Champions League match against Frankfurt on December 9 will occur at Camp Nou or the Olympic Stadium. UEFA regulations differ from LaLiga’s regarding mid-season venue changes; however, Laporta has expressed confidence that all necessary requirements will be met, including provisions for the directors’ box.

Currently, the bottom two tiers of the stadium are complete, while work continues on the third tier, and the roof installation is still pending. The full renovation is expected to be completed by 2027, at which point the stadium’s capacity will expand to 105,000.