As reported by AS, Real Madrid is anticipated to be the first team impacted by La Liga’s schedule changes due to the participation of players in the later rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With France preparing to meet Morocco in the quarter-finals, the Spanish club is assured that at least one player will reach the semi-finals, prompting the league to implement its postponement protocol.
Opening Match Rescheduling
La Liga is slated to start between August 14-16, but clubs with players in the World Cup semi-finals need not play in the opening matches. Consequently, Real Madrid’s opener against Real Sociedad is likely to be postponed and rescheduled for later in August.
No matter which country advances, Real Madrid will have representation in the tournament’s semifinals, with Brahim Diaz competing for Morocco and Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, and new signee Ibrahima Konate representing France.
Tebas Outlines the Plan
La Liga president Javier Tebas has elaborated on the league’s approach to managing the calendar. He stated that all players participating in the World Cup will receive a guaranteed rest period under the collective agreement with the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), which includes three weeks of leave followed by three weeks of pre-season training.
To meet these demands, La Liga intends to split the opening matchday, scheduling some games during the initial weekend and others for a midweek slot later in August. Tebas noted, “We’ve conducted an assessment, and it is quite feasible for us to distribute the first matchday into six matches around August 14, with another three or four on a Wednesday in August. Thus, the opening matchday will be divided.”
He added, “That postponed matchday could take place between the second and third matchdays of the league.”
Potential Impact on Other Clubs
While Real Madrid is poised to be the first club affected by these changes, it is unlikely to be the only one. Other matches that may also see postponements include the fixtures between Barcelona and Athletic Club, Atletico Madrid versus Malaga, and Celta Vigo against Osasuna, depending on which players continue in the World Cup. La Liga is expected to finalize the official fixture schedule once the semi-finalists are known.
AFE Suggested an Alternative Approach
The Spanish Footballers’ Association previously voiced concerns about the congested schedule. Instead of breaking up the opening round across different dates, the union proposed that postponing the entire league’s start by one week would allow all clubs to commence the season simultaneously. Despite this suggestion, the league opted to move forward with its current plan, resulting in Real Madrid’s opening fixture being delayed.