Why Real Madrid, Barcelona are not playing in LaLiga’s opening weekend

n n

Real Madrid and Barcelona will not play their opening LaLiga fixtures when the 2026/27 season gets underway on August 15, with both clubs receiving a schedule adjustment following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

n

The two Spanish giants were originally scheduled to begin their campaigns against Real Sociedad and Athletic Club respectively. However, both fixtures have been postponed until later in August.

n

The decision is not related to a suspension or disciplinary sanction. Instead, it is part of a special measure introduced to give players who featured deep into the World Cup additional time to recover before returning to domestic competition.

n

Why were the fixtures postponed?

n

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) approved a measure allowing clubs with a significant number of players involved in the World Cup semi-finals or final to postpone their opening LaLiga fixture until August 25, 26 or 27.

n

The provision was introduced because the 2026 World Cup ended less than a month before the start of the Spanish league season, leaving some players with limited time to recover from the tournament and prepare for the new campaign.

n

Barcelona and Real Madrid both met the criteria for the special arrangement.

n

Barcelona had 10 players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup, according to the club, while Real Madrid also had several players who remained involved late in the tournament.

n

As a result, both clubs were permitted to move their Matchday 1 fixtures.

n

When will Real Madrid play its opening fixture?

n

Real Madrid’s scheduled home match against Real Sociedad has been moved to Wednesday, August 26, at the Santiago Bernabéu.

n

However, the fixture against Sociedad will not be the club’s first LaLiga match of the new season.

n

Real Madrid will begin its campaign on August 22 when it travels to face Espanyol in a Matchday 2 fixture.

n

This means the Spanish giants will play their second-round match before completing their opening-round assignment.

n

When will Barcelona play Matchday 1?

n

Barcelona will also have to wait until later in August to complete its opening fixture.

n

The defending champions’ home game against Athletic Club has been rescheduled for Thursday, August 27, at the Spotify Camp Nou.

n

Barcelona will nevertheless begin its league campaign on August 23, when it travels to face Elche in a Matchday 2 fixture.

n

Four days later, the Catalan club will return home to face Athletic Club and complete its Matchday 1 fixture.

n

Are Real Madrid and Barcelona skipping Matchday 1?

n

No.

n

Both clubs are still scheduled to play their official Matchday 1 fixtures. The games have simply been moved to later dates because of the special post-World Cup arrangement.

n

LaLiga’s opening round will therefore not be completed on the opening weekend. Instead, Matchday 1 will stretch from August 15, when Deportivo Alavés faces Getafe, through August 27.

n

The unusual schedule is a result of the expanded 2026 World Cup and the need to give players from the most heavily affected clubs additional recovery time.

n

As a result, Real Madrid and Barcelona will both start their league campaigns with Matchday 2 fixtures before eventually completing their opening-round games later in August.

n n