Camp Nou
The massive Barça home where history gets made and legends rise.
Camp Nou (Catalan: [ˈkam ˈnɔw], meaning 'New Field'), officially Spotify Camp Nou for sponsorship reasons, and often referred to in English as the Nou Camp, is a stadium in Barcelona and the home of La Liga club FC Barcelona since its opening in 1957. It is currently undergoing renovation, and with a planned increased seating capacity of 105,000 it will retain its position as the largest stadium in terms of seating capacity in Spain and Europe, as well as the second largest association football stadium, while becoming the fifth-largest overall stadium in the world. The stadium opened on 24 September 1957, the feast of La Mercè, with a solemn mass and some 90,000 people in attendance.
- Opened
- 1957
- Location
- Les Corts, Barcelona, Spain
- Primary Tenant
- FC Barcelona
- Record Attendance
- 120,000 (vs Juventus, 1986)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The construction of Camp Nou started on 28 March 1954 as Barcelona's previous stadium, Camp de Les Corts, had no room for expansion. The June 1950 signing of László Kubala, regarded as one of Barcelona's greatest players, provided further impetus to the construction of a larger stadium. On 14 November 1950, president Agustí Montal i Galobart obtained agreement to acquire land, and the first stone was laid on 28 March 1954. The architects were Francesc Mitjans and Josep Soteras, with the collaboration of Lorenzo García-Barbón. The stadium's capacity has varied greatly over the years, opening at 106,146, and growing to 121,401 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Barcelona's record attendance was set on 5 March 1986 in the European Cup quarter-final against Juventus in front of 120,000 spectators. Camp Nou has hosted two European Cup/Champions League finals in 1989 and 1999, two European Cup Winners' Cup finals, four Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final games, five UEFA Super Cup games, four Copa del Rey finals, two Copa de la Liga finals, and twenty-one Supercopa de España finals. It also hosted five matches in the 1982 FIFA World Cup (including the opening game), half of the four matches at the 1964 European Nations' Cup, and the football tournament's final at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
In Their Own Story
On 24 September 1957, the feast of La Mercè, Camp Nou was inaugurated. A solemn mass presided over by the archbishop, who welcomed the finished stadium, preceded the Hallelujah from Handel's Messiah. Dignitaries of the Franco regime and of the city gathered in the presidential tribune, and some 90,000 people attended the opening ceremony. During the event, football clubs from all over Catalonia paraded on the field, as well as members of the different sections of Barça, the penyes and the different Barcelona teams. The Camp Nou also hosted the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, with both teams in contention to complete league title/domestic cup/European Cup trebles. Bayern led early through Mario Basler's goal in the sixth minute and kept the lead as the clock reached 90 minutes, but United came back to win with injury time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. On 1 October 2017, Barcelona's league match against Las Palmas was played in an empty Camp Nou due to political turmoil in the region.
Reader's Guide
Visiting Camp Nou is less a matchday outing and more a pilgrimage to the spiritual heart of Catalan identity. The stadium houses the second-most visited museum in Catalonia, the Barcelona Museum, which receives more than 1.2 million visitors per year. The facilities now include a memorabilia shop, mini-pitches for training matches and a chapel for the players. Renovation of the stadium commenced after the end of the 2022–2023 season. Final completion of all renovations is scheduled for June 2026, although the stadium reopened in November 2025 at a reduced capacity. During the renovation, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys served as Barcelona's home ground for both the 2023–24 season and 2024–25 season; the club played its first two league home matches in the 2025–26 season at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. In 2022, music streaming service Spotify reached a deal with Barcelona to acquire the naming rights to the stadium for four years in a deal worth $310 million. The stadium was rebranded as the Spotify Camp Nou in July 2022.
Did You Know?
- Camp Nou opened on 24 September 1957, the feast of La Mercè, with 90,000 people in attendance.
- Barcelona's record attendance at Camp Nou was 120,000 for a European Cup quarter-final against Juventus on 5 March 1986.
- The stadium hosted the opening match of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Belgium upset defending champions Argentina 1–0.
- Camp Nou houses the second-most visited museum in Catalonia, the Barcelona Museum, with over 1.2 million visitors per year.
- The stadium was rebranded as Spotify Camp Nou in July 2022 after a four-year naming rights deal worth $310 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Camp Nou located?
Camp Nou stands in the Les Corts district of Barcelona, Catalonia, serving as the monumental home base for FC Barcelona since its opening in 1957. It remains one of the most iconic landmarks in Spanish football history.
What is the seating capacity of Camp Nou?
With a current approximate capacity of 99,354 spectators, it ranks as one of the largest football stadiums in Europe. The venue once held a record attendance of 120,000 fans during a match against Juventus in 1986.
Why is Camp Nou considered more than just a stadium?
The ground embodies the club's motto 'Més que un club' by acting as a sacred cultural hub that hosts historic triumphs and significant events beyond simple football matches. For over six decades, it has been the stage where legends are born and the team's identity is celebrated.
When did Camp Nou first open its doors?
The stadium officially opened in 1957 to accommodate the growing success of FC Barcelona. Since then, it has witnessed countless La Liga titles and Champions League victories that define the club's legacy.
What role does Camp Nou play in FC Barcelona's history?
As the primary tenant for decades, the stadium serves as the physical testament to the club's identity and its most celebrated moments. It is widely regarded by fans worldwide as the spiritual heart where the team's greatest stories are written.