Many prominent players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, including Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, are participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals. This has prompted La Liga to postpone the opening matches for both clubs in the upcoming Spanish top-flight season.

The World Cup semifinals began with France facing Spain on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, followed by England playing Argentina on Wednesday. France secured a semifinal win over Spain.

Originally scheduled to start on the weekend of August 15-16, 2026, the La Liga season will now see Barcelona begin their campaign at Elche on August 23, with their initial match against Bilbao postponed to August 27. Real Madrid’s home game against Real Sociedad, initially set for the opening weekend, has been rescheduled to August 26.

These adjustments were made to accommodate the number of players from both clubs involved in the World Cup semifinals, ensuring they have adequate rest and preparation time before the domestic season.

Sources