Real Madrid face Fiorentina today, Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 18:00 CEST (17:00 BST / 12:00 PM ET) at Wörthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria. This is Real Madrid’s first preseason friendly to be broadcast live and in full.
What time does Real Madrid vs Fiorentina start?
Kickoff is set for 18:00 CEST local time in Klagenfurt, which translates to 17:00 BST in the UK and 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT in the United States. Fans in Latin America can catch the match at 13:00 (Argentina/Uruguay), 12:00 (Chile), and 11:00 (Colombia/Peru/Ecuador).
Which channel broadcasts the match?
Coverage varies by region, with Real Madrid TV/RM Play handling the official international feed and DAZN and Fox properties leading in North America. Real Madrid confirmed the game “will be broadcast live and exclusively on Realmadrid TV and RM Play”.
Context and Background
This clash marks the club’s third preseason friendly and the opener of a European tour that continues with Ferencváros in Budapest, the Teresa Herrera Trophy, and Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen. Fiorentina, coached since June by Fabio Grosso after replacing Paolo Vanoli, finished 15th in Serie A last season with one of the league’s lowest win totals.
Real Madrid enters the friendly on a strong run, having beaten Leganes 4-1 in a behind-closed-doors match on Thursday, part of preparations under head coach Jose Mourinho during his second spell in charge. The two clubs have met only twice before in preseason play, splitting the results: Real Madrid won 2-1 in August 2017, while Fiorentina won 2-1 back in August 2014
Predicted Lineups and Key Names
Confirmed starting elevens show Real Madrid fielding a blend of first-team regulars and academy talent, while Fiorentina relies on veteran goalkeeper David de Gea between the posts.
Trent Alexander-Arnold starts at right-back for Real Madrid alongside Endrick up front, while Fiorentina counters with Albert Gudmundsson leading the attack. The Wörthersee Stadion, home of SK Austria Klagenfurt, holds around 30,000 spectators for this test of Mourinho’s rebuilding project.
Reactions and Impact
According to Managing Madrid, this friendly represents “the first true test of this preseason stage” for Mourinho’s squad after Thursday’s closed-doors win. Yahoo Sports notes Real Madrid enters the fixture unbeaten in five matches barring a single loss to Barcelona in May, underscoring the club’s positive preseason momentum.
What Comes Next?
Following Fiorentina, Real Madrid travels to Budapest to face Ferencváros next Saturday before contesting the Teresa Herrera Trophy on August 12 and a friendly against Schalke 04 on August 16. The club’s official 2026/27 competitive season opens on August 22 against Espanyol.
For more preseason coverage, readers can explore our pillar page on Real Madrid 2026/27 Preseason Schedule and related articles on Mourinho’s tactical setup and transfer market moves.
