After the 2026 World Cup has ended, Real Madrid and Barcelona fans are already beginning to wonder when the two best teams in Spain will play again. And the correct answer is that it will be sooner than you imagine.

The last time the white club played an official match was on May 23, on matchday 38 of LaLiga 2025-2026. With goals from Gonzalo, Bellingham, Mbappé and Brahim, Arbeloa's team still beat Athletic Club de Bilbao 4-2.

FC Barcelona, ??LaLiga champion, closed the season that same day losing 3-1 against Valencia. The Polish Robert Lewandowski, now with the Chicago Fire of the MLS, scored his last goal with the Blaugrana team shirt.

Read also: What's next for Lionel Messi after the 2026 World Cup: Is it time to retire?

When do Real Madrid and Barcelona play again?

Thanks to the preseason friendlies, fans will not have to wait for the start of LaLiga 2026-2027 to enjoy their favorite teams.

On August 1, José Mourinho's Real Madrid will play a friendly against Fiorentina. The game will take place in Austria, at 12:00 pm Eastern Time.

Next, and before starting the league championship, the meringues will play on August 12 against Deportivo La Coruña in Riazor. The warm-up game is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET.

This is how FC Barcelona will play the preseason

For its part, FC Barcelona will have a slightly longer preseason than its biggest rival. This same Friday, July 24, they will play a friendly match behind closed doors against the Catalan Club Esportiu Europa (2:00 pm ET).

Next, on July 31, they visit Birmingham City for a preparation match on English territory. It is scheduled for 2:45 pm ET.

Already in August, on the 8th, FC Barcelona will play under the curious triangular friendly format. On the same day they will play against Udinese and Nottingham Forest.

Finally, the team led by Hansi Flick will compete in its traditional Joan Gamper Trophy on August 18. However, the rival has not yet been confirmed by the club.

When do Real Madrid and Barcelona face each other?

The first classic of the 2026-2027 season is already defined for October 25, at the Camp Nou stadium, and corresponds to matchday 10 of LaLiga.

The return at the Santiago Bernabéu will be on May 9, for matchday 35. As it is one of the last dates of the championship, it reopens the possibility of a “champion's hall.”

It should be remembered that Real Madrid and Barcelona could also face each other in the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League (which has not happened since 2011) and surely in the Spanish Super Cup, which will be in February 2027.

For this final to take place, Madrid will have to beat Real Sociedad and Barca will have to do the same against Atlético de Madrid.