La Liga's 2026-27 season has begun with Sevilla facing Rayo Vallecano, but Real Madrid and Barcelona will not play during the opening week. Their first-round fixtures were postponed until the final week of August because of player fatigue after the recently concluded World Cup and FIFA's mandatory rest policy.

The report said Spain's World Cup victory over Argentina on July 19, along with the participation of several Real and Barcelona players in the tournament's semifinals, created physical and mental pressure on the players. Under Spanish football's collective bargaining agreement, players from a country that reaches the semifinals must receive minimum preseason preparation and sufficient rest.

An agreement between the Spanish players' union and La Liga authorities approved a 10-day delay. Real begin against Espanyol on August 22 before playing Real Sociedad on August 26. Defending champions Barcelona open against Elche on August 23 and face Athletic Bilbao in their rescheduled first-round match on August 27.