La Liga has rejected a request from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to postpone the start of the 2025/26 league season, despite both clubs’ involvement in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
The expanded tournament in the United States will prolong the 2024/25 campaign by a month for both Madrid clubs, raising concerns over player workload.
The upcoming season is also bookended by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also to be held in North America, compounding fixture congestion and sparking renewed debate around player welfare.
Despite the looming scheduling issues, La Liga has confirmed that the 2025/26 season will begin on the weekend of August 16-17 and conclude on May 24, 2026.
The schedule allows for a three-week break before the start of the World Cup and offers no flexibility for clubs returning late from international duty.
Real Madrid and Atletico had requested to play their opening fixtures on the second weekend of the season to give their squads additional rest, in line with AFE (Spanish Footballers’ Association) regulations, which stipulate players must receive at least 30 days of annual rest, including 21 consecutive days post-season.
However, La Liga president Javier Tebas dismissed the possibility.
“The derby is not being considered for the first matchday, nor is it being considered for Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid to skip the first matchday. We will respect the collective bargaining agreement, the three-week vacation, and nothing else,” Tebas said as quoted by Diario AS:
Tebas also reaffirmed La Liga’s stance on the Club World Cup’s role in the domestic calendar.
“We can’t base our competition on the Club World Cup, a competition which neither the European leagues nor the clubs are in favour of.”
The final fixture list for the 2025/26 La Liga season is expected to be announced in July.
