Revealed: Who Barcelona will begin their 2026-27 pre-season against | OneFootball

Barcelona now know who they will face in their first pre-season test of the 2026-27 campaign, with Hansi Flick’s side set to take on CE Europa behind closed doors.

The friendly will be played on 24 July at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, giving the German coach his first chance to assess the squad after the summer break.

According to SPORT, the match will take place 11 days after Barcelona officially begin pre-season on 13 July. As is usual with these early summer fixtures, the game will not be open to the public.

For Flick, the priority will not be the result. This will be about fitness, rhythm, and early tactical work before the squad begins a more demanding block of preparation.

A useful first step for Flick

Barcelona’s pre-season will be shaped heavily by the World Cup, with several internationals expected to return later depending on their national-team commitments.

That means Flick is likely to begin work with a reduced group. Players such as Gerard Martin, Wojciech Szczesny, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, and Alejandro Balde are expected to be among those available from the start.

The Europa friendly should also give opportunities to younger players, especially with the first-team squad not yet complete. For La Masia talents, these early matches can be valuable windows to impress.

After that first test, Barcelona will travel to England for a training camp at St George’s Park between 27 July and 3 August.

Their first public friendly of the summer is already confirmed against Birmingham City on 31 July at St Andrew’s.

For Barca supporters, the Europa match may be quiet and behind closed doors, but it still matters. It is the first step in a season where Flick will try to build on a title-winning campaign and prepare his squad to compete again on every front.