Spain's forward #19 Lamine Yamal marks France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe during the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Spain's forward Lamine Yamal, left, and France's forward Kylian Mbappe play in Euro 2024 in another semifinal [File: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP]

Report by Al Jazeera Staff and AFP

The World Cup semifinals are being held this week, featuring four teams with several stars from the Spanish clubs.

Published On 14 Jul 202614 Jul 2026

La Liga has delayed the opening matches of Barcelona and Real Madrid for the upcoming season because many of their players are participating in the World Cup semifinals.

France face Spain in the first of the last-four matches on Tuesday while England take on Argentina in Wednesday’s clash.

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Key Barcelona players featuring in the World Cup semifinals include Spain's Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, plus England's Anthony Gordon.

Madrid’s talisman Kylian Mbappe is joined by Los Blancos midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in the France side while Real playmaker Jude Bellingham has proved the pivotal player of England’s campaign.

France’s Kylian Mbappe, left, and Spain’s Lamine Yamal are to face off in the first 2026 World Cup semifinal
France’s Kylian Mbappe, left, and Spain’s Lamine Yamal are to face off in the first 2026 World Cup semifinal [Franck Fife and Etienne Laurent/AFP]

The Spanish top-flight season begins on the weekend of August 15-16. Defending champions Barcelona initially were scheduled to face Athletic Bilbao at home to kick-start their title defence.

After La Liga’s decision on Tuesday, however, Barcelona will start their season at Elche on August 23 with their original opener against Bilbao delayed until August 27.

Madrid were due to host Real Sociedad on the opening weekend, but the league has moved that game to August 26.

That means manager Jose Mourinho‘s first La Liga game in charge of Madrid in his second spell at the club will be away at Espanyol on August 22.

Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian pair of Julian Alvarez and Nahuel Molina, however, will both be required to kick off against Malaga on August 19 as originally scheduled.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the favorites for the La Liga title this season, and the schedule changes could impact their early-season momentum. With key players returning late from international duty, the clubs will have limited time to integrate them before their first matches.