The start of the 2026-2027 Spanish League season will witness exceptional circumstances, after it was decided to postpone five matches from the opening round, due to the continued participation of a number of club players in the final rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
The Spanish newspaper AS reported that the League and Club Association had previously agreed to start the season on the weekend of August 15, with the postponement of the matches of teams that include players participating in the World Cup semi-finals, to ensure that they have an adequate rest period. After the end of the tournament.
This decision aims to give the players a three-week vacation after the curtain falls on the World Cup, followed by another three weeks to prepare with their clubs, in order to maintain their physical readiness without the need to delay the start of the entire season.
On the other hand, the Spanish Players Association (AFE) demanded that the start of the league be postponed for a full week, but an independent mediator supported the position of the League and Club Association, so that the decision was adopted in its current form.
It confirmed La Liga said that postponing these matches will not affect the course of the competition, indicating that the postponed matches will be held at a soon date, likely between the first and second rounds of the season.
According to the newspaper, the matches nominated for postponement include the confrontation between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao, and Celta Vigo against Osasuna, in addition to the meeting with Atletico Madrid and Malaga.
As for the fifth match, It will be decided according to the result of the confrontation between Argentina and Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals. If the Argentine national team qualifies, the match between Valencia and Real Betis will be postponed due to the participation of Giovani Lo Celso with his country’s national team, while if Switzerland qualifies, the match between Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano will be postponed, due to the presence of the duo Gabriel Sow and Ruben Vargas in the ranks of the Swiss national team.