Worker Dies At Camp Nou As Barcelona's Stadium Renovation Faces New Scrutiny

A construction worker died on Friday, July 24, 2026, during ongoing renovation work at FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium, the club confirmed in a statement over the weekend. It marks the first fatal workplace accident since construction began in June 2023.

Catalan regional police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, said the 54-year-old man died after suffering a blow while carrying out construction work at the stadium on Friday. Emergency services responded to the scene but were unable to save his life, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

FC Barcelona said in its statement that it "deeply regrets the death of the worker who lost his life yesterday in the workplace accident that occurred during the renovation works at Spotify Camp Nou." The club extended its condolences to the man's family, friends and colleagues.

Club president Joan Laporta said he intends to personally convey his condolences to the family and has placed himself at their disposal on behalf of the organisation, according to the statement. No further details on the exact circumstances of the accident have been released.

The renovation, part of Barcelona's wider Espai Barça redevelopment plan, is raising the stadium's capacity to approximately 105,000 seats, which would make it Europe's largest football venue once complete. Players returned to Camp Nou in November with limited seating as construction continued around them.

The project has faced scrutiny before. Turkish contractor Limak, one of the firms overseeing the rebuild, has previously faced criticism over workers' rights and environmental practices in Turkey, and Barcelona addressed allegations of irregular labour practices at the site in 2023.

Camp Nou had gone without major renovation for decades before the current project began, with reports describing structural cracks and deteriorating conditions under previous club leadership. Plans to upgrade the stadium date back to 2007 but were repeatedly delayed by the club's financial difficulties before receiving approval in April 2022.

Barcelona begins its new La Liga campaign on August 23 against Elche, with construction work continuing at Camp Nou as the club prepares for a fuller return to its home ground.