City Council inspectors have flagged several fixes that Barça must complete at Spotify Camp Nou before Monday if the venue is to be approved for hosting its first La Liga home game of the season. With the First Occupancy Permit still pending, Barça faces a tight deadline to clear the stadium.
On Tuesday, technicians from the City Council, the Fire Department, and the City Police conducted a thorough check of Camp Nou. While progress was noted, multiple areas require attention before the stadium can be deemed fit for official matches. The issues range from operational and safety elements rather than structural ones, including signage, emergency exit indicators, the security control room, food service zones, medical and Red Cross facilities, VIP areas, and dressing rooms. There is also scrutiny of how rain-related problems are handled, though experts stressed these are fixable with relatively minor renovations. The central challenge remains time.
A key decision looming on Monday will determine whether Camp Nou can host Valencia in the weekend of September 13–14 or whether Barcelona must relocate. The club is evaluating two alternate venues: Girona’s Montilivi Stadium and the Johan Cruyff Stadium. The board’s preference is the Johan Cruyff venue, but it presents significant hurdles: it seats only about 6,000—well short of La Liga’s 8,000-seat minimum—and currently lacks a VAR system. To meet league requirements, Barça is exploring the installation of temporary stands and a portable VAR setup.
La Liga officials paid a visit to assess whether these changes can be implemented in time, while Barcelona continues to work through the necessary approvals. Montjuïc has already been ruled out, narrowing the options to Montilivi or Johan Cruyff, with the final call resting on what can be achieved by Monday’s meeting.
What this means for fans and the season ahead
– If Camp Nou can be cleared in time, Barça would host Valencia at home; otherwise, a relocation would be necessary.
– The plan to use temporary stands and a temporary VAR solution, if feasible, could set a precedent for how clubs manage late-stage stadium readiness in the league.
– The outcome will shape not only the opening weekend but potentially early-season logistics, ticketing, and travel arrangements for supporters.
Summary of the situation
Barcelona faces a race against the clock to resolve non-structural fixes at Camp Nou, with a Monday decision that could keep Valencia at home or push the match to an alternative venue. While the core infrastructure is largely sound, several operational and safety elements require completion, and the club is weighing temporary solutions to meet La Liga standards.
Hopeful note
There is a clear path forward: most issues are fixable with targeted renovations and temporary technology solutions. If the city and club align quickly on the necessary steps, fans could enjoy the season-opening fixture at Camp Nou, reinforcing Barça’s readiness for a demanding campaign ahead.