Football General Manager
- Gamper Trophy vs Como moved from Camp Nou
- No permit granted for large crowd access
- Johan Cruyff Stadium will host the match
According to Mundo Deportivo Barcelona‘s much-anticipated return to Camp Nou has been cancelled. The club’s traditional Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Como on August 10 will now take place at the Estadi Johan Cruyff instead. This decision comes after the Barcelona City Council declined to issue the crucial First Occupancy permit needed to allow fans back into the renovated stadium. Without the license, hosting more than 30,000 people would be impossible.
The Catalan giants were hoping to reopen Camp Nou after receiving the initial activities and work permits, but talks with the council revealed that full access to some areas of the stadium was not feasible. The club also floated a partial opening but were ultimately denied and must now reconsider event logistics and fan communication, especially given the size difference between Camp Nou and the 6,000 capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium.
Meanwhile, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companysn, where they played their home matches last season, was not a fallback option either due to a scheduled Blackpink concert on August 9 and other concerts running through mid-September.
The Joan Gamper Trophy, named after Barcelona’s founder, is traditionally held at Camp Nou to kick off the season, but for the second consecutive year, it won’t be played there due to ongoing renovations. This year’s match will see former Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas return as an opponent, now serving as Como’s manager.
The Blaugrana club will now begin preparing Estadi Johan Cruyff for the August 10 fixture and will release revised ticketing plans for fans. The official return to Camp Nou is now set for either September 13 or 14, when they will play against Valencia in La Liga, pending final approvals from the City Council.
