Following the initial round, the first of six qualifying rounds takes the field, featuring 55 matches scheduled from October 31 to November 2.
The Copa del Rey 2023-2024 begins this October, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation organizing the draw for the first knockout round. More than 100 clubs will compete in this opening phase, marking the return of Spain’s second most prestigious competition in a renewed edition.
Draw for the first qualifying round of the Copa del Rey 2023-2024: date, format, schedule, and participating clubs
The draw for the opening knockout round of the Copa del Rey will occur on Monday, October 17, 2023, starting at 1:00 PM at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas. The draw will be streamed live on the official RFEF channels and can also be followed via Movistar and Teledeporte.
Across October 31 to November 2, 2023, a total of 55 matches will be played.
How the draw operates and the single-match format for the first knockout round of the Copa del Rey 2023-2024
In this round, 110 teams participate: 100 from the five national divisions and 10 from the preliminary round. Fifty-five matches determine the round’s winners, who advance to the second round. Clubs that will participate in the 2024 Spanish Super Cup begin their Copa del Rey journey in the round of 32. Amorebieta, the First Federation champion for 2022-2023, does not play in the first round.
The pairings are drawn by lot with a preference for pitting lower-division clubs against higher-division opponents whenever possible. The participating teams are divided into as many pots as there are divisions remaining in the tournament.
Matches take place at the home venue of the lower-category club, provided they meet the minimum requirements established by the RFEF. If both teams belong to the same category, the venue is that of the club drawn first. The qualifying ties are decided in a single match; if tied at the end of regulation, extra time is played, and if still level, penalties determine the winner.
The 55 victors, along with Amorebieta, proceed to the second round, which will feature 28 matches and is scheduled for December 2023.
Which teams participate in the draw for the first qualifying round of the Copa del Rey 2023-2024
Thus, 55 qualifiers are defined, producing 55 winners who join Amorebieta (First Federation champion) in the second round.
- First Division: Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Betis, Athletic Club, Mallorca, Girona, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla, Celta de Vigo, Cádiz, Getafe, Valencia, Almería, Valladolid, Espanyol, and Elche.
- Second division: Granada, Las Palmas, Levante, Alavés, Eibar, Albacete, Andorra, Oviedo, Cartagena, Tenerife, Burgos, Racing, Real Zaragoza, Leganés, Huesca, Mirandés, Sporting de Gijón, Ponferradina, Ibiza, Málaga, and Lugo.
- First Federation: Racing de Ferrol, Alcorcón, Eldense, Deportivo, Castellón, Linares Deportivo, Real Murcia, Unionistas de Salamanca, and Gimnàstic de Tarragona.
- Second Federation: Arenteiro, Real Avilés, Compostela, Zamora, Guijuelo, Sestao River, Tarazona, Utebo, Gernika, Tudelano, Teruel, Peña Deportiva, Manresa, Terrassa, Hércules, Antequera, Recreativo de Huelva, Atlético Sanluqueño, UCAM Murcia, Yeclano, UD Melilla, Navalcarnero, Cacereño, Gimnástica Segoviana, and Villanovense.
- Third Federation: Arosa, Covadonga, Cayón, Barakaldo, Europa, Orihuela, Ursaria, Aranndina, Marbella, Antoniano, Andratx, Messenger, Águilas, Llerenense, Valle de Egüés, Náxara, Barbastro, Manchego Ciudad Real, Real Jaén, Azuaga, Varea, Atlético Astorga, Manacor, Lorca Deportiva, and Atzeneta.
- Federation Cup: San Roque de Lepe, UD Logroñés, Badalona Futur, and Talavera.
- Preliminary round: Boiro, Deportivo Murcia, Quintanar de la Orden, Tardienta, Rubí, Turégano, Hernán Cortés, Buñol, Chiclana, and Atlético de Lugones.
Source: Goal