World Cup pulls stars away as Barcelona’s pre‑season begins

Everything points to a busy start for Barcelona as the 2026/27 pre‑season officially opens on Monday, with head coach Hansi Flick and his staff welcoming the first group of players back to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The club’s schedule aims to blend physical conditioning with ball work, setting the tone for the upcoming campaign.

Monday marks the kickoff of Barcelona’s preparations at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, where Hansi Flick will oversee the initial medical assessments before players hit the training pitch 24 hours later. The early focus is on health checks and conditioning to compensate for the absence of several first‑team stars.

While several senior internationals remain unavailable due to their FIFA World Cup commitments, the club will begin with medical examinations and then transition to on‑field sessions. The World Cup involvement means the squad’s full reunion will be delayed, but the early work aims to keep fitness levels high.

Flick has stressed that physical conditioning will dominate the opening week, yet the ball will stay central to every training drill. Players have already spent the past fortnight on personalised fitness programmes, ensuring they return in good shape before the workload intensifies.

Every important date is set: on July 13 the medicals commence, full training under Flick starts on July 14, and the first fixture arrives on July 24 against CE Europa behind closed doors at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Three days later, the squad will travel to St. George’s Park for further preparation.

The training camp is expected to coincide with the return of senior internationals Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong after their World Cup breaks, while numerous La Masia prospects will train under the German coach, offering academy graduates a bigger role.

Barcelona’s first public friendly is slated for July 30 at Knighthead Park, where they will face Birmingham City, followed by a behind‑closed‑doors match against Preston North End on August 3 before returning to Spain. A triangular tournament from August 8 could see them meet Udinese and Nottingham Forest, and the Joan Gamper Trophy is scheduled for August 19, though opponents remain unannounced.

The club’s La Liga campaign will begin on August 23 with an away trip to Martinez Valero to face Elche, after the opening league fixture was postponed due to the World Cup. As more internationals rejoin, Flick will gradually shape a squad closer to his season expectations.