The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is set to rule on the transfer bans imposed by FIFA on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid before the January 2017 transfer window opens.
Last January, FIFA found that both Madrid and Atletico had broken international youth transfer rules and would be banned for 12 months from registering any new players.
Appeals from both Spanish capital outfits were rejected by the sport's governing body in September, even though the Bernabeu side have repeatedly calling the sanctions "absurd."
Both clubs remain hopeful of having the punishment overturned, although Barcelona were unsuccessful when they appealed a similar ban to the CAS and served a transfer ban throughout 2015.
With the opening of 2017's first transfer window just a fortnight away, CAS secretary general Matthew Reeb said at a news conference that his organisation aimed to have the situation resolved within that timeframe.
"We are committed to taking a decision before the end of the calendar year," Reeb said.
With the ban hanging over both clubs, Madrid and Atletico have been adding young players to their squads, while current stars on either side including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez have also been tied up to long-term contracts.
Barca went ahead and signed players even while they were under the sanction in 2015, spending upwards of €60 million on Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, although the players then spent six months just training with their new teammates as they were unable to make a competitive debut until the punishment had been fully served.