Barcelona plan 2027 US return as €300m Camp Nou funding secured

Barcelona are planning a return to the United States for their 2027 pre-season tour while raising €300m to help complete the redevelopment of Spotify Camp Nou.

The club have been working on both their commercial strategy and the financing of the stadium project, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

Barcelona have not visited the United States during the past two summers but are considering a return in 2027, with the west coast the preferred destination under plans being shaped with Hansi Flick’s first-team staff. The final itinerary and match schedule still depend on ongoing negotiations with the organisers involved.

The United States was a regular destination for Barcelona in recent years. They trained on the east coast in 2022, using Fort Lauderdale as their base, before spending an extended period in Los Angeles on the west coast in 2023. In 2024, they returned to the east coast, holding preparations in Orlando and Annapolis.

The club opted against travelling to the US in 2025 because of the crowded football calendar and the Club World Cup. They also stayed away in 2026, when the United States hosted the World Cup. Barcelona instead toured Japan and South Korea in 2025 before using England as their pre-season base last summer.

With no World Cup or European Championship scheduled for 2027, Barcelona believe the summer offers a suitable opportunity to rebuild their presence in the American market. The club see the country as strategically important because of their sizeable following there and their aim of increasing both their fanbase and commercial income through tours and friendly matches.

For Flick, the tour could provide an opportunity to begin preparations with most of his squad available, without the absences usually caused by major international tournaments. The German coach was particularly impressed by the facilities at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis during the team’s 2024 visit. Barcelona are now finalising their preparation programme before confirming the destination and dates.

€300m for Spotify Camp Nou

Alongside the sporting and commercial plans, Barcelona have completed the issue of €300m in bonds to provide additional funding for Spotify Camp Nou. The transaction received the necessary authorisation from Spain’s National Securities Market Commission.

Goldman Sachs acted as the exclusive placement agent. Barcelona’s delegate members approved the issue at the ordinary general meeting on 19 September, with 90.79% of the vote.

The bonds form part of the financing structure for the Espai Barca project, which initially received approval for €1.5bn. The club has since carried out several refinancing operations to spread its financial obligations more evenly without increasing the original principal.

The redeveloped stadium is planned to hold 104,600 spectators, making it the largest football stadium in Europe by capacity. The project also includes expanded hospitality facilities, around 9,500 premium seats and a double ring of private boxes between the second and third tiers.

The financing is based on a securitisation fund purchasing rights to certain future stadium revenues. The average financing cost is about 6.15%, while the margin in the latest transactions reached 242 basis points.

Barcelona are targeting full completion during the first half of 2028, with the roof scheduled to be installed in summer and autumn 2027. UEFA has selected Spotify Camp Nou to host the 2029 men’s Champions League final, while Barcelona hopes to stage the women’s final in 2031 and apply to host matches at the 2030 World Cup.

At the 19 October general meeting, economic vice-president Ferran Olive said that around 80% of the work had been completed, leaving the board confident there would be no further budget overruns or need for additional borrowing. He said the financing would not burden members, mortgage the club or affect normal operating resources, with future stadium income providing the main guarantee. He added that the need for an additional €300m had been anticipated from the outset because of changes made during construction.