English Premier League
Barcelona unveil new Camp Nou changing rooms ahead of Al Ahly opener
Barcelona have revealed the newly renovated changing rooms at Camp Nou, with the upgraded facilities set to be opened when the stadium hosts Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy on 19 August.
The club published a video on its social media accounts showing the latest internal developments at the stadium, which has undergone significant improvements since Barcelona’s previous match there against Real Betis on 17 May.
The footage includes images of the new changing-room areas, which will be used for the first time when Hansi Flick’s side return to their home ground after a three-month absence.
Barcelona’s match against Al Ahly will mark the reopening of the changing rooms, while the club’s first home La Liga fixture at Camp Nou is scheduled for Thursday, 27 August, against Athletic Club.
The construction work has been accelerated during the summer break, with the company responsible for the project using the period without regular matches to advance the redevelopment of the stadium.
One of the main objectives is to open the third tier during the 2026-27 season. According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the initial plan was for that section to be ready in October, allowing Barcelona to increase the stadium’s current capacity of 62,000 spectators.
The club is also hoping to speed up the process of relocating away supporters to the third-tier area. That move would bring an end to some of the disruption caused by visiting fans in areas occupied by Barcelona members during previous matches, particularly in the Champions League.
However, the latest schedules under consideration suggest the third tier may not be completed until the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of 2027. That would place its opening between February and April.
Once the third tier has been completed, work will begin on installing a roof covering the whole stadium. The scale of that operation means Barcelona are expected to return to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys during the first half of the 2027-28 season.
The latest images provide an update on the progress at Camp Nou as Barcelona prepare to resume playing at the venue. The return match against Al Ahly will therefore serve both as the Joan Gamper Trophy fixture and as the first opportunity to see the club’s new changing-room facilities in operation.
