You don’t have to wait four years to see the best stars of world football again: in LALIGA, they play every weekend. The 2026/2027 season kicks off this weekend with a fact that reflects the talent of Spanish professional football: 24 of the 52 players called up by Spain and Argentina for the World Cup final play in the top Spanish football competition, as well as 18 champions who contributed to the two stars now appearing on the Spanish national team jersey.
The ‘big data’ of the 24 World Cup 2026 finalists who play in LALIGA
Clubs with the most finalists
Distribution by position
Total
matches in 
Total
goals in
Total
assists in
Average age
26.42 yearsThe XI of World Champions with the most matches in LALIGA
Unai Simón
237
Eric García
145
Aymeric Laporte
186
Marcos Llorente
270
Pedri
201
Marc Cucurella
143
Ferran Torres
211
Álex Baena
173
Mikel Oyarzábal
349
Nico Williams
157
Borja Iglesias
291
Source: LALIGA / Transfermarkt
The achievement of the most prestigious football trophy has led to the first matchday being split to await the return of the champions’ well-deserved holidays. Between Saturday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 19, seven LALIGA EA SPORTS matches will be played. The remaining three, postponed so teams can have all their players available, will be played at the end of the month: Valencia-Real Betis on the 25th; Real Madrid-Real Sociedad on the 26th; and the matchday will close on the 27th with FC Barcelona-Athletic Club, two of the teams that contributed the most players to the Spanish squad with 11 stars. Meanwhile, the kickoff of LALIGA HYPERMOTION will be on Friday the 14th with the match between Real Sociedad’s reserve team and CD Castellón, one of last season’s revelations that narrowly missed promotion.
As every season, teams are finalizing their squads. New faces and familiar ones arrive, raising the level of LALIGA EA SPORTS. Names like Sergio Canales, who returns to R. Racing Club after a stint in Mexico; Anthony Gordon, star of the English national team who joins FC Barcelona; and José Mourinho, returning to the Real Madrid bench.
New faces and familiar names in LALIGA EA SPORTS
José Mourinho
REAL MADRID
Portuguese José Mourinho replaces one of his most outstanding pupils, Álvaro Arbeloa, on the Real Madrid bench this season. In his previous spell (2010-2013), he managed the white team in 114 matches – 84 wins – in LALIGA EA SPORTS and won the league title in the 2011/12 season.
Photo: Diario AS
Diomande
REAL MADRID
The signing of the Ivorian winger, a starter in the last World Cup with his national team, arrives to strengthen Real Madrid’s attack. He already played ten matches with CD Leganés (two goals and one assist) in the 2024/25 season. In the image, a montage made by Real Madrid to announce his signing.
Photo: Real Madrid
Canales
R. Racing Club
The Racing youth product debuted in LALIGA EA SPORTS on October 10, 2008, with the Santander team. He played for Real Madrid, Valencia CF, and Real Sociedad; shone at Real Betis (164 league matches, 30 goals, and 25 assists) and now returns home after three years in the Mexican league.
Photo: Diario AS
Grimaldo
Atlético de Madrid
At 30 years old, the world champion (in the image, with the trophy) has a new challenge in his career: to debut in LALIGA EA SPORTS. He was trained at La Masía, played at Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen. With FC Barcelona’s reserve team, he played 75 matches (4 goals, 9 assists) in LALIGA HYPERMOTION between 2011 and 2015.
Photo: Getty Images
Anthony Gordon
FC Barcelona
The English international, signed from Newcastle, reached the semifinals in the last World Cup and now arrives at LALIGA EA SPORTS to strengthen FC Barcelona’s attack. In the image, his presentation as a new Barça player.
Photo: Diario AS
Aissa Mandi
Levante UD
A veteran (34 years old) who returns to LALIGA EA SPORTS after two years in Ligue 1. Mandi, an Algerian international with 114 caps and captain, played 206 matches in the top tier of Spanish professional football between 2016 and 2024, first at Real Betis and then at Villarreal CF. In the image, the center-back in a duel with Lionel Messi during the World Cup.
Photo: Getty Images
Yeremay
RC Deportivo
The Canarian winger (22 years old) and Deportivo youth product was one of the sensations of LALIGA HYPERMOTION in the last two seasons: 77 matches, 25 goals, and 15 assists. Now, he arrives at LALIGA EA SPORTS despite interest from Premier League and Serie A teams. In the image, during one of the preseason training sessions.
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Photo: Diario AS
Dubasin
CA Osasuna
The Spanish-Belgian born in La Seu d’Urgell (Lleida) played for Albacete Balompié, Swiss FC Basel, Real Oviedo, and Real Sporting. With 138 matches in LALIGA HYPERMOTION – 34 goals and 21 assists – Dubasin joins CA Osasuna to debut in LALIGA EA SPORTS. In the image, the winger (on the left) during summer preparation.
Photo: Diario AS
Álex Calatrava
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
Cala, as he is known by CD Castellón fans, was one of the pillars of the white-and-black team that reached the PROMOTION PLAYOFFS last year. In the second division, he scored 14 goals, provided 8 assists in 42 matches. Now, the RCD Espanyol de Barcelona signing has the opportunity to make his mark in the elite.
Photo: Diario AS
Chupe, Larrubia and Joaquín
Málaga CF
The offensive trident of Málaga CF last season: together they scored 43 goals and provided 17 assists to bring the team back to the elite nine years later. Except for Joaquín Muñoz, who played four matches in LALIGA EA SPORTS with Atlético de Madrid between 2019 and 2020, Chupe and Larrubia will debut in the top division.
Photo: Diario AS
The guide to enjoy the excitement of LALIGA
LALIGA EA SPORTS is broadcast on the two official channels, Movistar LALIGA and DAZN LALIGA, each with five matches per matchday. Additionally, there will be three exclusive matchdays yet to be defined that can only be followed on the first channel. Both channels can be viewed through official operators: Movistar Plus+, Orange, and DAZN. This season, there will also be one match per matchday broadcast free-to-air via Teledeporte.
Where to watch all the matches of the 2026/2027 season
CHANNEL
OPERATOR
OFFER
CHANNEL
Movistar LALIGA
OPERATOR
Movistar Plus+
Orange
OFFER
5 matches per matchday
CHANNEL
Movistar Plus+
OPERATOR
Movistar Plus+
OFFER
3 exclusive matchdays
CHANNEL
DAZN LALIGA
OPERATOR
DAZN
Movistar Plus+
Orange
Euskaltel
Telecable
R
OFFER
5 matches per matchday
CHANNEL
DAZN free-to-air
OPERATOR
DAZN
Teledeporte
OFFER
1 free-to-air match per matchday
Meanwhile, the second division and the PROMOTION PLAYOFFS can be followed in full on the official channel, LALIGA TV HYPERMOTION, included in more than 23 different operators. Each matchday will also offer one free-to-air match available on GOL and Cayo TV, depending on the matchday, or through regional channels such as Televisión Canaria, Corporación Radio y Televisión de Galicia, Radiotelevisió de les Illes Baleares (IB3), and 3Cat.
CHANNEL
OPERATOR
OFFER
CHANNEL
LALIGA TV HYPERMOTION
OPERATOR
Movistar Plus+
Orange
DAZN LALIGA
Amazon Prime Video Channels
Vodafone
DIGI
MasMedia
Adamo
7PLAY
MásMóvil
Telecable
Euskaltel
Yoigo
SIMple
R
Hits
Oceans
Embou
Populoos
PTV Telecom
Cableworld
Netllar
OFFER
All matches and Promotion Playoff
CHANNEL
OPERATOR
GOL
Cayo TV
OFFER
1 free-to-air match per matchday
CHANNEL
OPERATOR
Televisión Canaria
TVG
IB3
3Cat
OFFER
Free-to-air match (depending on matchday)
The matchday starts at the bar
Fans who want to experience football in a different atmosphere can also do so in the thousands of bars that have the official broadcast packages. With a double added value: football fans who decide to go to their trusted establishment contribute to the growth and dynamization of the HORECA sector and reinforce, with their visit, the culture of the pre-match and post-match, demonstrating that football can also be a social experience that goes far beyond the 90 minutes.
Additionally, throughout the season, LALIGA will bring contests, raffles, and exclusive prizes to the screens of official bars, offering fans new ways to participate and enjoy the competition while experiencing the match in their second stand.
Ampuero, the first activation of LALIGA BARS
After 14 years of absence, Racing’s return to LALIGA EA SPORTS (Sunday 16, 17:00) will serve as the first activation of the LALIGA BARS season, the platform that puts bars at the heart of professional football. On the occasion of the match, LALIGA BARS will travel to Ampuero (Cantabria), the hometown of Santander captain Íñigo Sainz-Maza, who will visit the official bars in the area with the aim of connecting professional football with stories that intertwine the identity of the territory and hospitality. Sainz-Maza, protagonist of the second episode of 42 Legados, an audiovisual project by PRISA and LALIGA, is not only one of the most beloved neighbors of his small town but also personifies the resilience and humility that characterize the Santander fanbase. The activation also holds a surprise: the presence of a club legend from the mountain town.
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