WORLD CUP | Real Madrid’s La Liga Opener Postponed With Key Stars Poised to Play World Cup Semi-Finals

Real Madrid’s 2026/27 La Liga opener will be postponed, with the league agreeing to delay the club’s first match because of the FIFA World Cup, according to Yahoo Sports. The season is still set to begin on the weekend of August 14 and 15, but Madrid’s home game against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu will be moved to later in August to allow players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup time to rest and prepare. La Liga president Javier Tebas said the plan ensures players get three weeks of rest after their final World Cup appearance and three weeks of preparation, with some opening-round matches shifted to a midweek slot between the second and third rounds. The World Cup is scheduled to conclude on July 19, and Madrid could be affected if players such as Brahim Diaz, Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni and Ibrahima Konate remain in the tournament deep into the knockout rounds.