Real Madrid were granted only a three-week window between the conclusion of their domestic league season and the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. During this period, the players took a brief vacation before resuming preparations under the guidance of their new manager.
Since June 1, the team’s performance has been overseen by Xabi Alonso. Under the Spanish coach’s leadership, the Royal Whites have already advanced to the semifinals of the global tournament.
If they reach the final, the decisive match of the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 13. Following this competition, the players of Los Blancos will begin their vacation starting Monday, giving them a chance to recover after a gruelling season. According to the plan, their break will last slightly over two weeks, with the squad reporting back for the first training session at Valdebebas on Friday, August 1.
This short timeframe means the team will only have two weeks to prepare for the 2025/2026 season. The opening league fixture is set for August 19, where Real Madrid will face Osasuna.
As a result, Real Madrid intends to request a postponement of the match from La Liga. According to information provided by Cope, the official reasoning behind the request is insufficient preparation time for the resumption of the competition.
In the previous season, Real Madrid finished second in the league, trailing behind Barcelona. Additionally, the team under Carlo Ancelotti suffered defeat to their Catalan rivals in both the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup finals. In the Champions League, their journey was halted by Arsenal in the quarterfinals.