(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bulls
Barcelona will not take part in La Liga’s upcoming Retro Matchday this season, although the club still plans to embrace the idea in the near future.
According to a report from MARCA, Barcelona had initially explored the possibility of wearing a retro-inspired kit during the special matchday organised by La Liga.
However, technical complications made the plan impossible to implement in time for the current campaign.
Instead, the Catalan club are now expected to introduce a retro shirt during the 2026/27 season.
The league’s new initiative aims to celebrate the rich history of Spanish football.
La Liga has officially scheduled its first-ever Retro Matchday between April 10 and April 13, 2026, which will take place during Matchday 31 of the competition.
For that round of fixtures, teams across the league will wear kits inspired by famous designs from their past.
Some clubs will honour shirts worn during title-winning campaigns, while others may revive designs associated with promotions, European adventures or eras defined by legendary players.
Barcelona have decided to skip this season’s initiative. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Furthermore, the initiative also carries a commercial opportunity, as Retro shirts have proven to be extremely popular among fans, and clubs are expected to release these designs for sale after the matchday.
Despite the excitement around the project, not every club will appear on the pitch in retro colours during that round.
Barcelona will be joined by Rayo Vallecano and Getafe among the teams that will not wear the special shirts due to logistical reasons.
However, those clubs remain part of the overall promotional campaign organised by La Liga.
The situation is slightly different for Real Madrid, as they have decided not to take part in the initiative at all and will simply wear their regular kit during the matchday.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are treating the delay as a temporary issue rather than abandoning the idea completely.
This means the club still intends to participate in the retro concept, but supporters may have to wait until next season to see the team wear a nostalgic design on the pitch.
Marc Bernal of FC Barcelona
Marc Bernal of FC Barcelona