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By TUM BALOGUN Published: 16: 41 AEST, 30 July 2025 | Updated: 16: 41 AEST, 30 July 2025 2 View comments Barcelona fans have been hit with news that their Nou Camp return is set to be delayed yet again, with the club reportedly drawing up plans for alternative venues for the start of the upcoming season. Earlier this month, the club were forced to walk back plans to stage the Joan Gamper Trophy, an exhibition match held every August, at the revamped 105, 000-seater stadium because of a licensing issue. It was the fourth major delay to the £1. 3billion project after the club was unable to meet previous deadlines of November 2024 and February and May of this year. According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Blaugrana are now facing another headache, with the revised return of the September La Liga clash against Valencia on matchday four looking 'increasingly unlikely' as they continue to wait to receive an occupancy permit from the city council. The council has previously stated that it cannot grant a licence, which they require to host the match, until the stadium works are fully completed. Their report claims that the club could play the fixture at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, where Barca Atletic typically play their fixtures. The two-year project has cost the Spanish giants a staggering £1. 3billion but will see the a suite of new corporate spaces as well as an additional 15, 000 seats The Spanish champions were hopeful of returning to their iconic ground for the September clash against Valencia in La Liga The club planned to return to the Nou Camp for the start of the La Liga season is set to be missed Barca have hosted home games at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium during the two-year exile from their iconic home but a return to the ground is not possible due to an event in the arena that weekend. The Spanish champions are reportedly still hopeful of making the deadline but they have begun to draw up alternative options in case they are forced to keep their fans waiting even longer for the homecoming. Even once it reopens the Nou Camp will be at a lower capacity, expected to be between 50, 000 to 60, 000, until renovations are finished, which is likely to be at the start of the 2026-27 campaign. The completion of a new third tier, a roof installation, interior spaces and development of the stadium's surrounding areas still need to be completed. Last season Hansi Flick led the club to their first league title away from the Nou Camp.
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