Barcelona have announced plans to include a surprising English club in their upcoming pre-season schedule, adding an unexpected twist to their summer preparations. According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants are set to face Championship side Birmingham City during a two-week training camp at St George's Park, the prestigious elite training base for all 24 English national football teams.

The friendly match is part of Barcelona's broader pre-season blueprint, with Hansi Flick's squad expected to spend time at the Burton upon Trent facility from July 27 to August 8. This marks the third time the Blaugranas have chosen St George's Park as their pre-season hub, following previous visits in 2014 and 2016. The decision to stay in England rather than embark on a traditional United States tour reflects the logistical challenges posed by the upcoming World Cup in North America, which has disrupted many clubs' summer plans.

Birmingham City's proximity to the training camp played a key role in Barcelona's selection of the Championship side as their opponent for this fixture. While the game may not feature every major star—several players are expected to receive extended breaks if they progress deep into the World Cup with their national teams—it is still set to draw significant attention from fans eager to see the Spanish champions in action.

The fixture also revives a historic European rivalry between the two clubs, who met five times in the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor to the UEFA Cup. One of the most memorable encounters came in 1960, when Barcelona defeated Birmingham in the final after a draw at St Andrew's and a convincing win at the Nou Camp. This friendly is expected to kick off Barcelona's summer tour, with additional matches in Kenya and Morocco reportedly under consideration as the team gears up for another demanding season.