Villarreal avoid postponements, to start LaLiga on weekend of 14-16 August | OneFootball

Villarreal will start the 2026-27 LaLiga campaign as planned, unaffected by opening-week postponements linked to the World Cup. Their trip to Racing de Santander is set for the weekend of 14-16 August.

El Periódico Mediterráneo reports that Iñigo Pérez’s side will visit El Sardinero as scheduled and can keep their pre-season programme intact. They avoid the uncertainty facing several top-flight clubs.

The postponements stem from a prior agreement between LaLiga and its clubs. Players reaching the World Cup semi-finals must receive a minimum of three weeks’ holiday and three weeks of preparation before returning to official action.

Clubs unanimously approved starting in mid-August and delaying only the fixtures involving affected teams, rather than shifting the entire first round back a week. That stance contrasts with the Association of Spanish Footballers, which favoured a full delay to the league’s start.

With Spain and France already into the semi-finals, four matches are practically confirmed for postponement, Barcelona-Athletic, Real Madrid-Real Sociedad, Atlético-Málaga and Celta-Osasuna. A fifth will depend on the outcome of Argentina v Switzerland.

If Argentina qualify, Valencia-Betis would be pushed back due to former Villarreal player Giovani Lo Celso’s involvement with the Albiceleste. If Switzerland advance, Sevilla-Rayo Vallecano would be delayed because of Djibril Sow and Rubén Vargas.

The postponed ties would, in principle, be staged between matchdays two and three, using a midweek August date. The season will begin in two phases, but Villarreal remain unaffected.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo