LaLiga EA Sports will start on August 15-16 after the arbitration agrees with LaLiga

The first day of LaLiga EA Sports 2026-2027 will begin on the weekend of August 15-16 after the arbitration has ruled in favor of LaLiga over the opposition of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) who wanted to delay the start to the following weekend so that the footballers who play in the World Cup have more and better rest.

The employers and the union were at odds in their positions regarding the calendar of the upcoming campaign, especially at the beginning of LaLiga EA Sports and at the end of LaLiga Hypermotion, so, as the Collective Agreement dictates, they had to resort to arbitration that ruled in favor of the body chaired by Javier Tebas in all points of conflict, as confirmed by AFE sources to Europa Press.

Thus, the championship will begin on the weekend of August 15-16 as desired by LaLiga, which already warned, through the mouth of its president, that the 21 days of vacation and the three weeks of preseason would be respected. Furthermore, he pointed out that that first day would surely be divided into several days starting on Friday the 14th.

For the AFE, this decision seems “detrimental” to the players who attend the World Cup “because they will not have adequate preparation and their health will be compromised when facing such a demanding season.”

The union also regrets that “the economic interests have been put before the well-being of the footballers” and therefore it is clear that it is “more necessary than ever” that a Collective Agreement that can resolve these situations be negotiated as soon as possible. Nor has the association chaired by David Aganzo liked the role of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which it considers “out of place” and focused on “reinforcing the position of the employers.”

Furthermore, the arbitration also did not agree with the AFE in its demands regarding the structure of the final section of LaLiga Hypermotion in relation to LaLiga’s proposal not to include interweekly days and the dates of the promotion playoff, which will be played from Wednesday, June 9 to Saturday, June 20, with the last day, the 42nd, taking place on the weekend of June 5-6.