Barcelona vs Valencia very likely to be played at Estadi Johan Cruyff as Camp Nou return stalls | OneFootball

Earlier this week, it was reported that Barcelona are confident about returning to Camp Nou by September 14, when the club are slated to take on Valencia at home.

That was followed by Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni’s statement, which assured that the city council is working with Barcelona to ensure the same.

However, the club are still yet to secure the Final Works Certificate for Phase 1A of the redevelopment, which would permit an initial capacity of 27,000 spectators.

Camp Nou return stalls

Now, in a major update, it appears the chances of Camp Nou hosting Barcelona’s first home game of the season have waned significantly, reports El Balon.

This comes on the back of reports that the club are finding it difficult to obtain the permit necessary to return to the iconic stadium.

Keeping that in mind, the Barcelona – Valencia game on September 14 will likely be played at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.

A general view of the outside of the Spotify Camp Nou stadium under construction on August 25, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

That is because Barcelona can’t have Montjuic ready in time for the match. Therefore, the first home game needs to be played at Estadi Johan Cruyff.

However, a bigger problem for Barcelona is that the possibility of returning to Camp Nou in the next month or so was never a realistic option.

The report points out that receiving permits usually take up to four to five months and in some cases, ten months.

Therefore, it won’t be surprising to see Camp Nou being closed to the public for at least the next few months, as Barcelona continue to try and get all documentation and safety protocols in place.

That means Barcelona will most likely end up returning to Montjuic, at least during the first half of the season. The same applies to UEFA competitions.

Although the governing body has given Barça some additional time, it is unlikely that the club will be able to meet the necessary criteria to ensure the return to Camp Nou.