Home / Sports / Real Madrid Faces First La Liga Scheduling Clash
Real Madrid Faces First La Liga Scheduling Clash
5 Jul
Summary
- Real Madrid's opening match will be postponed due to World Cup player participation.
- La Liga will split its opening round to accommodate player rest periods.
- Players receive three weeks holiday and three weeks pre-season preparation.
Real Madrid will be the inaugural club impacted by La Liga's new scheduling policy, designed for players advancing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With French and Moroccan players likely reaching the semi-finals, Real Madrid's initial match against Real Sociedad is slated for postponement.
La Liga's opening weekend is set for August 14-16. However, clubs with players in the World Cup semi-finals are exempt from playing. This means Real Madrid's first game will be rescheduled for later in August.
La Liga president Javier Tebas confirmed that all World Cup participants will receive a three-week holiday followed by a three-week pre-season. To manage this, the opening round will be divided, with some games played on the initial weekend and others on a midweek date in August.
This policy might affect other clubs as well, with potential postponements for matches involving Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Celta Vigo. The league will finalize the schedule once the World Cup semi-finalists are confirmed. The Spanish Footballers' Association had initially advocated for a league-wide delay rather than splitting the opening round.
