In Barcelona, the countdown has begun for August 10 and the Joan Gamper Trophy match, which will mark the return to Camp Nou after two years of exile at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic. It will be a half-hearted return, as construction work continues and the comeback may be less spectacular than expected, with capacity reduced to almost half of what FC Barcelona had hoped for.
A special return
The Camp Nou will once again be the venue for an FC Barcelona match during the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10, 2025. At the moment, there is no confirmed opponent for the legendary trophy, but everything points to Cesc Fábregas’ Italian team, Como, being the rival. It will be a special return, but at half speed, as the work is still to be completed, with the construction of the new third stand, the double VIP ring, the installation of the roof, as well as the final adaptation of some interior spaces and the exterior development of the stadium’s surroundings still pending.
A smaller capacity than expected
As for the capacity for that match, it was expected that the match could be played with the capacity expected for the first LaLiga matches in September, around 60,000. However, in the last few hours, after some consultations and meetings with the fire department, this forecast is being lowered. According to Mundo Deportivo, the capacity could ultimately be reduced to 35,000 spectators.
This setback comes days after the City Council raised objections to the tournament going ahead, stating that it does not yet have the necessary municipal license to reopen. “We are not there yet and we need time to check that the stadium is in a condition to welcome spectators once the work is finished,” said the deputy mayor.
End of preseason
The Joan Gamper will be the last preseason fixture for Hansi Flick’s Barça, who will make their league debut a week later. The first team will return to action on Sunday, July 13, with a day of medical examinations. A day later, on Monday, July 14, work will begin on the pitch to prepare for a preseason that includes an Asian tour with the first match scheduled for July 27 in Kobe, Japan, against Vissel Kobe. The team will then head to South Korea where, pending official confirmation, it will play two matches on July 21 and August 4.
Board of Directors visit Spotify Camp Nou
This week saw a very special visit to the new facilities. The Board of Directors visited the Spotify Camp Nou construction site once again, where they were able to see the progress being made on the work to make the future home of Barça a reality. The new turf, the photos, the LED lights… the directors were able to see first-hand the improvements that are already underway at the new Barça stadium.