Barcelona to make Camp Nou return after more than two years

Saturday's La Liga match against Athletic Club on 22 November will be the first official game held at the stadium since May 2023.

Camp Nou has been closed since the end of the 2022–23 season to undergo a major renovation. Work began in June 2023 on a project estimated at (1.5 billion euros), aimed at modernising the venue and expanding capacity to 105,000.

The original plan called for a return by November 2024, but construction delays pushed the reopening back by about a year.

Local authorities granted Barca a licence this week allowing matches to be played with a temporary capacity of 45,401. The club previously declined to return under an October permit that limited attendance to 25,991.

A test event earlier in November, with approximately 23,000 spectators, was used to validate safety procedures before applying for the expanded capacity.

During the closure, the Catalans played most home fixtures at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic, which seats 55,000. Two early-season matches this year were held at the 6,000-seat Johan Cruyff Stadium due to pending safety permissions at Camp Nou.

The reopened stadium currently has its lower two tiers completed. Construction continues on the third tier, and installation of the new roof is scheduled for June 2027, one year later than initially planned.

The match against Athletic begins a run of home games, including league fixtures against Alaves and Atletico Madrid. The club is also seeking approval from UEFA to host the 9 December Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou. UEFA requirements differ from La Liga's, and approval has not yet been issued.

Camp Nou, originally opened in 1957, previously held about 99,000 spectators. The renovated venue is expected to reach its full capacity of 105,000 when construction is completed.