Barcelona knows exactly where the team will be traveling to for its away matches in the upcoming Champions League group stage: Stamford Bridge in London, St. James’ Park in Newcastle, Eden Arena in Prague, and Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges. While the exact dates are still up in the air, those destinations are locked in.
Work on Barcelona’s stadium continues
But here’s the twist: neither Barcelona nor its group-stage opponents—Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, or Copenhagen—know where Barça will host its home games. That’s because the club is still navigating a logistical maze over its home venue.
Camp Nou or Olympic Stadium? The big question
Barcelona has informed UEFA that its preferred home ground is the Spotify Camp Nou, currently undergoing major renovations. To host matches there, the club must prove it has reached “Phase 1B” of the construction project—a milestone that would allow fans to access the South Goal, Main Stand, and Side Stand. UEFA requires that the televised “U” view (the camera angle used during broadcasts) includes visible spectators, making this phase non-negotiable.
However, the club is still waiting on approvals from the Barcelona City Council, as well as the Fire Department, Civil Protection, and local police. Even “Phase 1A,” which includes just the South Goal and Main Stand, remains unapproved pending a key meeting scheduled for Monday, September 1.
UEFA flexibility
Thanks to improved relations between Barça president Joan Laporta and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, the European governing body appears willing to cut the club some slack. UEFA may allow Barcelona to play its first few group-stage matches on the road, buying time to finish construction.
If Camp Nou isn’t ready in time, Barcelona has proposed the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Montjuïc) as a backup venue. UEFA requires final confirmation of the chosen stadium 10 to 15 days before Barça’s first home match. Once declared, the venue cannot be changed for the remainder of the group stage—including any potential Round of 16 playoff.
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