The news broke today, somewhat dampening the enthusiasm of FC Barcelona supporters who wanted to discover the new setting of their favorite club as quickly as possible. The new Camp Nou, you will have to wait until at least mid-February to savor its contours and its 62,000 seats (nearly 105,000, ultimately, in the summer of 2026). However, it has been a long time since June 2023 and forced exile to Montjuic.
Last month, Barça’s institutional vice-president, Elena Fort, said she hoped the Blaugranas would return home by the end of the calendar year. An announcement which then delighted the socios. However, the Catalan plan comes up against a UEFA rule which prohibits the same club from playing in two different stadiums during a phase of European competition.
Not before February 15, or even March
In other words, Barça will have to go to the end of the group stage of the Champions League before considering its move, with a final reception in this initial act scheduled for January 29 against Atalanta Bergamo. “The club has decided to continue playing in the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium until the end of the regular phase of the Champions League”, we can read in a press release addressed to the members.
“ This is due to UEFA regulations, which prohibit any change of stadium during the initial phase », specifies FC Barcelona, moving forward “ the logistical difficulties and additional costs of maintaining two high-capacity facilities operating at the same time
“. The return of the Blaugranas to the Camp Nou could therefore take place on the weekend of February 15, during the visit of Rayo Vallecano on behalf of the 24e act of La Liga. Unless it waits until early March and the knockout stages of the Champions League.
