UEFA Clears Barcelona to Host Champions League Fixtures at Partially Renovated Camp Nou
Barcelona will be permitted to stage Champions League matches at their partially reconstructed Camp Nou after UEFA approved the club’s request, the Spanish champions announced on Wednesday.
The approval comes shortly after Barcelona revealed plans for their long-awaited return to league action at the historic ground, ending more than two years of displacement caused by an extensive and often troubled redevelopment project.
The club is scheduled to host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on December 9, following the stadium’s reinauguration in La Liga against Athletic Bilbao on November 22.
In a statement, Barcelona confirmed that “UEFA accepted the request, considering that all the necessary requirements have been met.”
The decision brings closure to a protracted saga marked by repeated delays, missed safety certifications, and postponed reopening dates. Earlier this season, construction setbacks forced the club to play two competitive matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium after authorities withheld safety permits for Camp Nou.
Barcelona have since been using the 55,000-seat Olympic Stadium on Montjuic hill as their temporary home.
When Camp Nou reopens for competitive fixtures, it will do so with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, pending completion of the upper tier, which is expected to bring the final capacity to 105,000. As part of the phased reopening, the club admitted 23,000 fans to a training session earlier in November as a test event.
The delays have inflicted significant financial strain on Barcelona, who rely heavily on matchday and stadium-related revenue. The club is investing an estimated €1.5 billion in the ambitious rebuild, a project viewed as critical to restoring long-term financial stability.
