Villarreal’s season dates set as LaLiga start fixed for 15-16 August | OneFootball

Villarreal now know when their season will get going. Iñigo Pérez’s side will report for medicals on six, seven and eight July, with training from nine July at the Ciudad Deportiva José Manuel Llaneza. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, LaLiga’s 2026/27 campaign will begin the weekend of 15-16 August after an arbitration ruling on the calendar.

An arbitrator sided with LaLiga rather than the players’ union AFE, which sought a 23 August start because the World Cup ends on 19 July. Its proposal also placed matchday two on the 30 August weekend, matchday three on Wednesday two September, and set a 30 May finish.

The ruling fixes the Segunda season’s final day for six June with matchday 42, and the promotion play-offs between nine and 20 June. AFE had pushed for play-off ties on six, nine, 13 and 20 June.

LaLiga’s plan targets a 16 August start, supported by AI modelling of which national teams are most likely to reach the 2026 World Cup semi-finals and final. It will monitor World Cup call-ups and transfer activity before scheduling matchday one.

Clubs with a significant number of semi-finalists or finalists could have their openers moved to Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26 or Thursday 27 August, or potentially to 18-20 August on request.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo