Barcelona Set for Emotional Return to Spotify Camp Nou Against Como on August 10

After more than two years away from home, Barcelona are finally heading back to the Spotify Camp Nou. The club has confirmed that their annual Joan Gamper Trophy match — set for August 10 against Italian side Como — will mark their return to the iconic ground following major renovation work.

Originally, Barça had planned for this game to be a low-key test event with around 25,000 fans, just to see how the stadium was holding up after the refurbishments. But now, the plan has changed — in a good way. According to SPORT, the club is hoping to welcome as many as 60,000 supporters to the stadium that night. It’ll be the first time Camp Nou has hosted a match since May 2023. Since then, the team has been playing their home games at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium while the rebuild took place. \

Construction work, led by the company Limak, has made such strong progress that the lower two tiers of the stadium will be fully operational for the Gamper Trophy. Those areas can fit up to 60,000 fans. The third tier, meanwhile, will continue to be worked on during non-matchdays. 

“This comeback represents a historic moment for the Club and its supporters,” Barça said in a statement. “After more than two years of major renovations and a temporary relocation to the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, Barça will once again feel the thrill of football in its legendary temple.” 

Club president Joan Laporta had previously called the Gamper Trophy the perfect occasion to test the waters before the new LaLiga campaign kicks off. And while the league season will begin with three straight away games for Barcelona, plans are in place to host matches with a capped capacity between 50,000 and 60,000 after that. Before that symbolic August return, the club intends to run a full-scale load test on the stadium to ensure everything’s in working order. Although timelines are tight, Barça remain confident they’ll secure the necessary permits and pass all safety checks in time for the big night. 

Even with only a partial reopening in August, it’s clear that Camp Nou’s rebirth is nearly complete. The club is aiming for the full relaunch to happen in September, right after the international break. That timing is especially important with the UEFA Champions League group stage kicking off, as regulations require all home matches in the competition to be played in the same venue. 

Barcelona last played at the Camp Nou in May 2023, but August 10 will mark the beginning of a new chapter. Fans will be returning to a modernized stadium, but the soul of the place remains the same — the roar of the crowd, the sense of home, and the promise of exciting football on Catalan soil once more.