Barcelona could replace Limak if Camp Nou deadlines are missed
Barcelona could replace Camp Nou contractor Limak if it misses new deadlines for the club shop or VIP seating, according to reports, as FIFA assesses the stadium for the 2030 World Cup.
Barcelona has reportedly added terms to its Camp Nou redevelopment contract that would allow the club to replace Turkish construction group Limak if it misses either of two deadlines in early 2027.According to La Vanguardia, the first deadline is in January, when the new stadium shop is due to open, and the second is in March, by which point 75% of the VIP seats are expected to be available on matchdays.Missing either milestone could allow Barcelona to appoint another contractor to complete the remaining work, including the installation of the roof.Barcelona had originally expected the redevelopment to be completed in July 2026 under a contract that provided for compensation of €1 million per day for delays attributable to Limak.The club has not enforced the daily penalty, and Spanish media reports differ on whether the clause remains in the contract.Barcelona vice-president for economic affairs Ferran Olivé said in September: “Once the project is completed, we will discuss responsibility for the delays with Limak.”The redevelopment has involved design changes and more structural work than anticipated, with about 3,000 interventions needed to reinforce the second tier compared with around 800 originally planned, according to StadiumDB.The new deadlines focus on two areas that can generate income before the redevelopment is finished, with Barcelona expecting a fully operational Camp Nou to bring in around €250 million a year.Investors and Goldman Sachs, which helped arrange financing for the project, reportedly supported the move to set new milestones, with loan repayments due to begin once construction is complete.FIFA delegates visited Camp Nou on November 9 to assess the stadium as a potential venue for the 2030 World Cup, with an inspection of Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium also scheduled as part of the review of venues in Catalonia.Catalan sports minister Berni Álvarez said the regional government was working with Barcelona City Council, the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the club to make the case for Camp Nou to host the final.Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the tournament’s principal hosts, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each due to stage a centenary match, but FIFA has yet to decide where the final will be played.