Barcelona racing against the clock for Spotify Camp Nou: UEFA puts on the pressure

FC Barcelona isn't experiencing a peaceful end to the 2025 summer transfer window. In addition to all the problems stemming from its lack of ability to register players before the deadline set by LaLiga expires, the construction work at its stadium is also a concern. After all, the promise of soccer's return for August 10 (the past date), coinciding with the Joan Gamper Trophy, ultimately couldn't be fulfilled.

So much so that not many know when Hansi Flick's players will be able to use Spotify Camp Nou as their home stadium. Most reports on the matter point to September 14, with more than a month of league competition already played, as the definitive return of FC Barcelona to its stadium.

But the board of directors led by Joan Laporta must hasten the procedures and obtain confirmation of that return to the Les Corts field. After all, UEFA has already set a deadline, the same used in previous seasons, to determine which stadium the teams participating in its competitions will use as their home ground. 

Since FC Barcelona is one of the clubs set to participate in the 25/26 edition of the Champions League, the Catalan leadership must provide a response as soon as possible. Ideally, this should happen before August 28, a procedure much more important than it seems. According to the new Champions League rules, all teams must play their group stage home matches in the same stadium.

They're running out of time

Therefore, Joan Laporta and his directors must work against the clock to complete all the necessary aspects of the Spotify Camp Nou renovation. Otherwise, they would reach the UEFA deadline without a fixed place to play their home matches in the Champions League, something that would force a desperate move.

After all, the Catalan sporting management has never liked having two stadiums at the same time, given the expense involved in the Les Corts field construction... added to the cost of keeping and, if necessary, renting the new building in which to play home matches for UEFA competitions.

Now the confirmation of the operability of Spotify Camp Nou has a much tighter deadline compared to LaLiga regulations. UEFA wants to know which stadium FC Barcelona will use as its home ground for Champions League matches, but the blaugrana squad still can't offer its stadium for that purpose.

Given this situation, the executives led by Joan Laporta must hasten any procedure and strictly comply with the three phases planned for the reconstruction of the old blaugrana stadium. The first would open with just 30,000 spectators (32,808), while the one intended for Champions League matches would have 45,000 seats (48,437). The third phase, according to estimates, would offer 60,000 seats (65,617).