Birmingham City to face Barcelona in pre‑season friendly match

Birmingham City Football Club will host Spanish giants Futbol Club Barcelona at St. Andrew’s Stadium in Birmingham on Saturday, 1 August 2026. The game is part of both sides' preparations for the 2026‑27 season.

Birmingham, managed by Chris Davies, enter the match after back‑to‑back friendly victories over Huddersfield Town (3‑1) and Solihull Moors (3‑0). They will look to build on a solid 2025‑26 campaign that saw them finish 10th in the English Championship.

Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, arrive after a 4‑1 win over CE Europa. The La Liga champions will be without many first‑team regulars, but will feature new signings such as Karim Adeyemi and promoted La Masia players. The fixture offers a chance for emerging talents, including Birmingham’s Demarai Gray and Barcelona’s Adeyemi, to impress.

The friendly has no competitive stakes, but provides both clubs with valuable match fitness and a chance to evaluate squad additions ahead of their respective league campaigns.