FC Barcelona will open the 2026/27 La Liga season away at Elche on Sunday 23 August, the club has confirmed, as Hansi Flick’s squad continues to strengthen with the loan arrival of teenage full-back Josué Caicedo at Barça Atlètic.
According to an official announcement from fcbarcelona.com, the match at the Martínez Valero kicks off at 9.30pm CEST and forms part of the season’s second gameweek. Barça’s first fixture at the Spotify Camp Nou will follow four days later, on 27 August against Athletic Club, before a third game in quick succession at home to Rayo Vallecano on 31 August. The delayed start, a week later than for sides not involved in the World Cup, reflects the number of Barça players — ten in total — who reached the tournament’s semi-final stage, with Flick’s squad only returning to preseason training this week.
Josué Caicedo Joins Barça Atlètic On Loan From LDU Quito
Away from the first team, Barcelona have completed the signing of Josué Caicedo, an 18-year-old left-back from Ecuador, on a season-long loan from LDU Quito with an option for a permanent transfer. The versatile defender, who can also play as a wing-back or winger, joins Juliano Belletti’s Barça Atlètic squad for the Segunda Federación campaign after making 20 appearances for LDU Quito’s first team last season, including a Copa Libertadores outing against Bolivian side Always Ready.
The move continues a summer in which the club has balanced academy and B-team recruitment with first-team business, as the club’s ongoing summer rebuild continues around targets including Karim Adeyemi and Julián Álvarez.
Barça Femení Learn Liga F Opener Against Tenerife
Barça Femení also have clarity on their route to an eighth consecutive league title, with the club’s official fixture release confirming a Matchday 1 clash with Tenerife at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Pere Romeu’s side begin their 2026/27 Liga F campaign on Sunday 30 August.
With preseason training now under way at the Ciutat Esportiva and the summer rebuild continuing at pace, Barcelona’s official confirmations give fans their clearest picture yet of how the opening weeks of the new campaign will unfold.
