Why have Real Madrid and Barcelona’s first LaLiga games of 2026-27 been postponed?
Madrid and Barça won’t begin the new LaLiga season as scheduled, with both clubs forced to wait an extra week.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will start the 2026-27 LaLiga season a week later than planned after several players from both clubs reached the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.
The new league season in Spain will officially kick off on the weekend of Aug. 15-16, although all clubs agreed that teams with players still competing in the penultimate round of FIFA’s tournament would have their opening fixtures postponed.
That ensures the players involved will have at least three weeks off, followed by three weeks of preseason.
Mourinho’s league return delayed
Real Madrid had been due to begin the campaign with a home game against Real Sociedad, while Barcelona were set to host Athletic Club.
However, the change means José Mourinho’s first league match in his second spell in charge of Madrid will now come away to Espanyol on the weekend of Aug. 22-23.
Barça, meanwhile, will visit Elche for their first game.
No dates have yet been confirmed for the rearranged matches, although they could be played between the second and third rounds of fixtures in the final week of August.
World Cup semifinalists behind the postponement
Four Real Madrid players, including Kylian Mbappé and new signing Marc Cucurella, will take part in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, while Barcelona have 10 players still in the tournament, including eight members of Spain’s squad.
Real Madrid players in the 2026 World Cup semifinals
France
- Aurélien Tchouaméni
- Kylian Mbappé
Spain
- Marc Cucurella
England
- Jude Bellingham
Barcelona players in the 2026 World Cup semifinals
France
- Jules Koundé
Spain
- Eric García
- Ferran Torres
- Gavi
- Dani Olmo
- Joan García
- Lamine Yamal
- Pedri
- Pau Cubarsí
England
- Anthony Gordon
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