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Hornets could face Barcelona in pre-season friendly

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported that the Catalan giants are set to play Birmingham and either Watford or Stoke during a training camp in England next month.

Hansi Flick will apparently be taking his squad - minus players taking part in the World Cup - to these shores between July 27 and August 4.

The game against Watford would take part at the national team's St. George's Park training centre and would be behind closed doors.

Barcelona team photo before their game against Valencia last month (Image: Alberto Saiz/AP)

The Birmingham game had previously been confirmed and is set to take place in front of a crowd at the Championship club's St Andrews stadium.

It is not clear why Barcelona have chosen Watford and Stoke as their other potential opponents.

Watford already have three friendlies confirmed and will begin their preparation for the 2026-27 campaign by making the short trip to Meadow Park to face Boreham Wood on July 11.

Four days later they will face Barnet, also away from home.

The Golden Boys will return to Vicarage Road on July 25 to face German outfit Hansa Rostock.

The Championship season gets underway on August 14, with fixtures set to be released on June 25.

Watford will have been back in competitive action the previous weekend for the first round of the Carabao Cup.

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