Spain's top-flight football league has rearranged the season-opening fixtures for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, responding to the deep involvement of their players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals. Multiple stars from both clubs will be on international duty when La Liga was originally set to kick off. Main Developments La Liga announced Tuesday that Barcelona's opening match against Athletic Bilbao, originally scheduled for August 15-16, has been postponed to August 27. Instead, Barcelona will begin their title defense on August 23 at Elche. Real Madrid's home fixture against Real Sociedad on opening weekend has been moved to August 26. That shift means manager Jose Mourinho's first league game back in charge of Madrid during his second stint will be an away match at Espanyol on August 22. Read also: 3 ways Yemen escalation threatens global energy markets Atletico Madrid, by contrast, will proceed with their original schedule. Argentinian pair Julian Alvarez and Nahuel Molina are both expected to start against Malaga on August 19 as planned. Background The 2026 World Cup semifinals feature France versus Spain on Tuesday and England taking on Argentina on Wednesday. Barcelona has several players in those matches, including Spain's Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, plus England's Anthony Gordon. Real Madrid's squad contributes heavily to the semifinal lineups as well. Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni represent France, while Jude Bellingham has been a key figure for England throughout the tournament. La Liga's decision mirrors a common practice in European football: adjusting domestic schedules when clubs have multiple players competing deep into international tournaments. The league typically aims to balance competitive fairness with the need for player rest. Why It Matters The fixture changes directly affect two of Spain's biggest clubs at the start of a new season. Barcelona enters as defending champions, while Madrid begins a new chapter under Mourinho's return. Delaying their openers gives key players recovery time but also compresses the fixture calendar later. Atletico Madrid's unchanged schedule highlights an uneven start to the campaign. While their rivals gain extra rest for World Cup participants, Atletico will field its own internationals without adjustment, potentially affecting early-season form and standings. What's Next Barcelona will now travel to Elche on August 23 for their season opener, with the Athletic Bilbao match rescheduled four days later. Madrid plays at Espanyol on August 22 before hosting Real Sociedad on August 26. The World Cup semifinals will determine which players return to their clubs earliest. The tournament final follows shortly after, with La Liga monitoring any additional scheduling needs for the remaining participants.