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SportsLaLiga: Real Madrid's opening match postponed due to World Cup semifinals
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The upcoming LaLiga season faces a scheduling disruption because of the World Cup semifinals. Real Madrid is confirmed to have at least one player (Brahim for Morocco or Mbappé, Tchouaméni, or Konaté for France) in the semifinals, triggering a league rule that postpones their opening match. LaLiga president Javier Tebas confirmed that teams with players in the World Cup semifinals will have their first matchday postponed to allow three weeks of rest and three weeks of preparation. As a result, the Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad match, originally scheduled for August 14-16, will be rescheduled to a midweek slot between the second and third matchdays. Other matches at risk include Barcelona vs. Athletic, Atlético vs. Málaga, and Celta vs. Osasuna. The league is waiting for the World Cup semifinals to be finalized before releasing the full first matchday schedule. The Spanish Players' Association (AFE) has expressed frustration over the scheduling situation.
Source report
Updated: July 5, 2026 10:31 CEST
One World Cup quarterfinal match is already set. France and Morocco are the first teams to qualify for this round and will compete for a spot in the semifinals. This matchup directly impacts the start of the national league championship.
LaLiga is scheduled to kick off the weekend of August 14 to 16, but not all matches will be played as planned. According to LaLiga president Javier Tebas, all teams that have at least one player in the World Cup semifinals will have their league start delayed, and the first matchday will be postponed for those clubs.
Real Madrid is the first team confirmed to meet this requirement. The club will have at least one player in the semifinals:
- Brahim Díaz for Morocco
- Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, or Ibrahima Konaté for France
As a result, the Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad match from the first matchday of LaLiga — originally scheduled between August 14 and 16 — will be postponed and played at the end of the same month.
Tebas on the Decision
Javier Tebas explained the reasoning behind the scheduling adjustment:
"What the AFE collective agreement establishes will be fulfilled for all players. There will be three weeks of rest for players based on their last World Cup match and three weeks of preparation."
He added:
"We have done a study and it is very easy for us to split the first matchday into six games around August 14 and another 3 or 4 on a midweek Wednesday in August. So, the first matchday will be split. That postponed first matchday could be played between the second and third matchdays of the championship."
Other Matches Likely Affected
While Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad is the first match affected by this regulation, it will not be the only one. The following matches are considered most likely to also have their first matchday postponed:
- Barcelona vs. Athletic Club
- Atlético Madrid vs. Málaga
- Celta Vigo vs. Osasuna
It is expected that when LaLiga releases the schedules for the first matchday — which is waiting for the World Cup semifinals to be finalized — the day and time of these postponed matches will already be known.
AFE Reaction
The AFE (Spanish Footballers' Association) expressed strong dissatisfaction with the schedule, claiming that the arrangement did not adequately consider players' rest and preparation needs.
Source
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Part of this Story
La Liga Opening Match Postponed Due to World Cup Semifinalists