FC Barcelona has a key date marked on its calendar: July 13th marks the start of the 2026-27 preseason . This will be Hansi Flick ‘s third season managing the Blaugrana, but also a campaign that is expected to be quite unique due to the influence the World Cup will have on the team’s organization.

With most international players still in action during July, the German coach will have to rely on La Masia to fill out the first training sessions . This opens an exceptional opportunity for several young talents from the reserve team to prove their worth with the first team.

It was already known that Hamza Abdelkarim, Ebrima Tunkara and Orian Goren would be part of the first team’s initial training , but a new figure from the Barça youth academy has now joined that group .

Óscar Gistau, the big new thing

According to ‘ SPORT ‘, striker Óscar Gistau will also join the first team’s training sessions under Hansi Flick during the preseason.

This announcement represents a huge recognition for one of the most promising footballers born in 2008, who has also had to overcome numerous physical difficulties in recent years.

Gistau, who hails from Salou, has seen his last two seasons marred by health problems that limited his playing time . But when available, he has demonstrated outstanding form and a goalscoring ability that positions him as one of the most promising strikers to emerge from La Masia.

Now he will have the opportunity to impress the first team’s coaching staff and show that he is ready to make the definitive leap.

A summer conditioned by the World Cup

Hansi Flick’s sporting plans are clearly dictated by the World Cup. Pre-season training will begin on July 13th, before the tournament has even concluded.

The tournament semi-finals will be played on July 14 and 15 , while the third-place match and the grand final are scheduled for July 18 and 19 , respectively.