LaLiga has announced its schedule for the 2025-26 season. A schedule that is undoubtedly marked by the particular circumstances of Real Madrid and Atlético in the Club World Cup. If the Whites achieve their goal of reaching the final and lifting the title, they will finish competing on July 13, and the start of the competition is set for the weekend of August 15, 16, and 17.
LaLiga already has a schedule
As we said, LaLiga has already made the competition schedule for next season official. The first matchday will begin on the weekend of August 17 and end on May 24. As usual, the LALIGA schedule is asymmetrical, which means that no two matchdays are the same. In addition to the start and end dates, the FIFA periods have been set at five:
- Monday, September 1 to Tuesday, September 9, 2025
- Monday, October 6 to Tuesday, October 14, 2025
- Monday, November 10 to Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Monday, March 23 to Tuesday, March 31, 2026
- Monday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 9, 2026
It has also been stipulated that there will be three midweek matchdays in LaLiga and that the Christmas break will take place after the last match on Sunday, December 21, with LaLiga resuming on the weekend of January 4.
The problem with Real Madrid and Atlético
For Real Madrid and Atlético, this schedule is a problem if they manage to go far in the Club World Cup, which both teams will play in the United States starting on June 14. AFE had requested that, given the situation of both teams, the start of LaLiga be delayed until August 24, but the tight schedule makes that option impossible.
With no dates available, the idea is to condition the draw so that the Madrid derby takes place on the first day and thus avoid having to juggle the entire matchday. The idea appeals to the clubs, as if both or either of them go far in the World Cup, they could postpone the match. The problem lies with the date. LaLiga has proposed that it be held on August 27, but the clubs are not convinced.
The postponement of the league match for Real Madrid and Atlético if they go through the round of 16 or quarterfinals in the World Cup is a prior agreement approved at a meeting between LaLiga, the RFEF, and the AFE. The union has been the most vocal on this issue, as it wants players to have 21 consecutive days of vacation, as stipulated in the agreement, as well as a three-week preseason. This has been agreed with Dani Carvajal and Koke, captains of Real Madrid and Atlético.
The draw for the calendar is normally held in June, but the possibility of postponing it until early July is being considered, when it will be known whether any of the Madrid teams have reached the final stages of the World Cup. If they do not, there would be no impediment to the competition starting on the date originally scheduled.