Barcelona’s Home Matches at Estadi Johan Cruyff
Barcelona will again host a LaLiga match at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, as their anticipated return to the iconic Camp Nou remains on hold. The club had expressed hopes of resuming play at their home ground this month after being permitted to kick off the season with three away matches, while the Camp Nou undergoes extensive renovation, costing around €1.5 billion (approximately $1.7 billion).
Permits and Home Game Details
However, the local council has not yet finalized the necessary permits for Barça to resume operations at Camp Nou, forcing them to play their inaugural home game – a resounding 6-0 victory against Valencia – at the 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff last weekend.
The Catalan club is now eager to return for their match against Real Sociedad on September 28, followed by a high-profile Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1. In an announcement made on Tuesday, Barcelona conveyed:
“The club continues to work intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of Camp Nou in the coming days. For this reason, the match against Getafe will not be able to be played there and will finally be held at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.”
Estadi Johan Cruyff and Renovation Timeline
Located in Sant Joan Despí, the Estadi Johan Cruyff serves as the primary ground for Barcelona’s women’s team and the men’s reserve side, situated near their training facility. The Camp Nou has been closed since 2023 for renovations that are set to continue until at least 2026. Initially, Barça expected to return to their historic venue with a limited capacity of around 27,000, which is projected to expand to over 50,000 by season’s end.
The club planned to move back last November in celebration of its 125th anniversary, but delays in construction have necessitated their extended absence. Over the past two seasons, the team has utilized the 50,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc for matches, with an option to prolong their stay there until February. Nevertheless, the desire remains strong for a prompt return to their beloved Camp Nou.
