Real Madrid Requests La Liga Postpone 2025 Season Opener Due Club World Cup

Real Madrid has formally requested La Liga to postpone their opening match of the 2025/26 season against Osasuna from August 19 to October 29 due to their ongoing participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The club argues that players require a mandatory three-week break plus three weeks of preseason preparation, which cannot be met if they start on the scheduled date, especially if they reach the Club World Cup final on July 13. While Real Madrid, Osasuna, and the Spanish Football Federation have tentatively agreed on the reschedule, La Liga, led by president Javier Tebas, has so far refused to approve the change, emphasizing its stance against altering the calendar despite Tebas' criticism of the tournament's impact. La Liga has allowed a minor concession by scheduling the opener on August 19 rather than earlier but remains firm on not delaying the season start further, which may lead to a potential intervention by the Competition Committee. The dispute highlights broader concerns about player workload and scheduling conflicts due to the expanded Club World Cup format extending into the offseason. Real Madrid is seeking an extended rest period to ensure adequate player recovery and preparation before the domestic campaign begins.