Archive · 15 Aug 2026
La Liga 2026 season starts without Barcelona and Real Madrid
La Liga is a big football league in Spain.
The new season starts this weekend, on 15 August.
But some of the biggest teams, like Barcelona and Real Madrid, will not play right away.
They will start a little later in August.
The reason is that many of their players were very busy this summer.
They helped Spain win the Men's World Cup, and the final was on 19 July.
After that, the players needed time to rest and celebrate.
Other leagues in Europe start a bit later, which gives La Liga a head start.
Small clubs get to play first and shine, while the big teams warm up behind the scenes.
Fans will have to wait about a week to see the famous giants play.
La Liga resumes on 15 August with Alaves hosting Getafe, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis start their campaigns later in the month.
Defending champions Barcelona open their season on 23 August away at Elche, with their postponed match against Athletic Club rearranged for 27 August.
Real Madrid, under new manager Jose Mourinho, begin on 22 August at Espanyol and play their first home game against Real Sociedad on 26 August.
The staggered start follows Spain's second Men's World Cup title, with national team players only recently returning to club training; the split calendar was approved on 30 June.
Among Europe's top five leagues, La Liga starts earliest: the Premier League and Ligue 1 return on 21 August, Serie A on 22 August and the Bundesliga on 28 August.
- Who
- La Liga clubs, including defending champions Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, plus new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho
- What
- The 2026 La Liga season starts without several of its biggest clubs, who begin their campaigns later in August instead
- When
- The season opens on 15 August 2026, with Real Madrid starting on 22 August and Barcelona on 23 August
- Where
- Spain, in venues such as Elche, Espanyol and other La Liga stadiums
- Why
- Top teams delayed their starts partly because Spanish national team players returned late to training after Spain won the Men's World Cup, and the split opening round was agreed in early June
- League
- La Liga (Spanish top flight)
- Season opener
- 15 August 2026, Alaves vs Getafe
- Defending champions
- Barcelona
- Barcelona first match
- 23 August away at Elche
- Real Madrid first match
- 22 August away at Espanyol
- Real Madrid manager
- Jose Mourinho
- Calendar approved
- 30 June 2026
- World Cup final
- 19 July 2026 (Spain's second Men's World Cup title)