Barcelona Make Special Champions League Request to UEFA as Joan Laporta Addresses Camp Nou Return Delays
Joan Laporta has addressed the delays in Barcelona returning to the Camp Nou, while also confirming that they have made a special request to UEFA.

Barcelona Make Special Champions League Request to UEFA as Joan Laporta Addresses Camp Nou Return Delays

Camp Nou Renovation Delays Force Barca to Rethink Champions League Plans

Barcelona have never been a club to shy away from ambition. But with the extensive redevelopment of the iconic Camp Nou dragging on longer than expected, Joan Laporta and his board find themselves in a tricky situation. As the countdown to the 2025-26 Champions League begins, the Blaugrana have made a special request to UEFA—they want to play their first European fixture away from home.

Why the request? Well, the renovation of the Spotify Camp Nou, a project that has become as much about symbolism as bricks and mortar, has hit yet another snag. The initial hope was to host matches back at their spiritual home by late 2024. That was then pushed back to the start of the 2025 season. But now, with bureaucratic and construction delays piling up, Barcelona could be locked out until January 2026.

UEFA Rule Stands in Barca’s Way

The major stumbling block isn’t just construction dust or logistical headaches. It’s a UEFA regulation that prevents clubs from using more than one home venue during the Champions League group stage.

So if Barcelona host one European game at the Camp Nou—even if it’s just the last of the four home matches—they must play all their home ties there. No swapping between stadiums. That’s why the request to start the group stage away from home is so crucial. It buys time, even if just a few extra weeks, for the Camp Nou to become playable again.

Joan Laporta confirmed the club’s plea during an interview with Mundo Deportivo, saying:
“What we’ve asked UEFA is to allow us to play the first game away from home. The draw is on August 28, and we’ll see then. I hope UEFA allows us to play away.”

It’s a calculated ask, and Laporta is clearly trying to leverage the club’s improving relationship with European football’s governing body.

“We’re increasingly developing a better relationship with UEFA,” he added.
“I greatly respect the work that Aleksander Čeferin, its president, is doing, and I think we can trust them.”

A Delayed Return to Camp Nou: What’s Really Going On?

FBL-BARCELONA-STADIUM-CONSTRUCTION

FBL-BARCELONA-STADIUM-CONSTRUCTION

The return to Camp Nou has always been wrapped in layers of optimism—some of it overly ambitious. In fact, it was as recently as early 2024 that Barcelona were still aiming to play their traditional Joan Gamper Trophy game at Camp Nou on August 10. The city council had approved modifications to the Activity and Construction Licenses, which seemed to open the door for a symbolic return.

But that hope was dashed when the club failed to secure the First Occupancy License—the key document that allows them to legally use the stadium once again. Without it, even a friendly couldn’t be held at the venue. As a result, Barcelona moved the Gamper game against Como to the much smaller Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Now, with the Champions League looming large, the uncertainty surrounding the First Occupancy License continues. And if it doesn’t come through in time, UEFA’s rules mean Barça must designate Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys as their home stadium for the full group stage.

Financial Stakes Are High

Behind the scenes, there’s more than pride at stake. The delays are not just a logistical inconvenience—they’re threatening to poke holes in the club’s fragile financial recovery. The entire budget for the 2025-26 season has been drawn up with one major assumption: that Barcelona would be back at the Camp Nou.

“We’re not considering the possibility of not returning,” Laporta insisted.
“All the budgets we’ve made for next season and all the commitments we have based on the financing contract are contemplated with returning to the Spotify Camp Nou.”

That financing deal—inked with heavyweight backers like Goldman Sachs—is tightly tied to matchday revenue, sponsorship activations, and a fan experience that simply can’t be replicated at Montjuïc.

Laporta didn’t sugarcoat the challenge either:
“We’d have to redo everything. We’re used to dealing with complicated situations, but we always hope that when the time comes, things will calm down.”

But hope, as he hinted, is not a strategy.
“We have to be alert and attentive to any unforeseen events. Within our logic, we want to return to the Camp Nou as soon as possible and fulfill everything budgeted under the financing contract.”

What Happens If UEFA Says No?

If UEFA denies Barcelona’s request to start their European journey on the road, the consequences are pretty straightforward: every single home game in the group stage would be played at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. A stadium that, while serviceable, lacks the gravitas, aura, and commercial power of the Camp Nou.

The Montjuïc stadium, which has served as Barca’s temporary home since mid-2023, has been met with mixed feelings from fans. It’s harder to access, lacks the nostalgic weight of Camp Nou, and simply doesn’t feel like “home.” For the players too, it’s a different atmosphere—one that’s been less intimidating for visiting teams.

So while starting the group away from home might seem like a small ask on paper, it could have big implications for the club’s European campaign and its broader finances.

What’s Next for Barca?

FC Internazionale Milano v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg

FC Internazionale Milano v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg

As it stands, Barca have until mid-August to confirm their stadium choice for the Champions League group stage. That’s the deadline by which they must inform both UEFA and La Liga. If the First Occupancy License isn’t granted by then—and all signs suggest it may not be—they’ll have no choice but to stick with Montjuïc.

That means not just the Champions League games, but potentially the entire first half of the 2025-26 season could be played away from Camp Nou. Best-case scenario? A January 2026 return to their legendary ground.

Meanwhile, work continues day and night on the renovation project—one of the most ambitious stadium rebuilds in modern football. But bureaucracy moves slowly, and so does concrete.

Final Thoughts: A Balancing Act Between Legacy and Logistics

Barcelona are treading a fine line right now—balancing ambition with reality, sentiment with spreadsheets. Laporta’s request to UEFA is a smart move, but it’s also a sign of how fragile the timeline around the Camp Nou really is. For a club trying to restore itself both on and off the pitch, every home game played away from Camp Nou is more than just an inconvenience. It’s a missed opportunity—financially, emotionally, and competitively.

So for Barca fans, the hope is not just to return. It’s to return on time. And right now, that’s looking increasingly like a race against the clock.

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