Overview of the Copa del Rey First-Round Draw
The first round draw for the Copa del Rey is scheduled for this Tuesday at the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation in Las Rozas, near Madrid. The traditional event places lower division clubs on a level playing field, giving them a real shot at facing a top-flight team in a cup tie played on their own ground when permitted by the federation.
From the qualifying rounds in the autonomous regions and the Federation Cup semi finalists, ten victors and four semi-finalists will be paired against the larger clubs. If permission is granted by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, those tie games will be hosted at the home venue of the lower-tier team, creating a genuine upset potential and a special atmosphere for fans.
Beyond the four exempt teams that are not entering the draw, every club from the top tier will participate in the process. The Super Cup participants include Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Osasuna, with Amorebieta receiving a bye as the Federation Cup holder. The draw mixes teams across divisions, setting up a mix of classic fixtures and chance meetings that fans relish.
The first round marks the start of a long journey and will feature matches played between October 31 and November 2. The knockout format means a single loss eliminates a club from the competition, making each fixture a vital test of preparation, resilience, and squad depth.
Teams confirmed for the draw span several leagues and regional levels. The primary group lists Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Betis, Athletic Bilbao, Mallorca, Girona, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla, Celta, Cádiz, Getafe, Valencia, Almeria, Granada, Las Palmas, and Alavés. The second division includes Valladolid, Espanyol, Elche, Levante, Eibar, Albacete, Andorra, Oviedo, Cartagena, Tenerife, Burgos, Racing Santander, Zaragoza, Leganés, Huesca, Mirandés, Sporting Gijón, Racing Ferrol, Amorebieta, Eldense, and Alcorcón. The First RFEF entries feature Ponferradina, Malaga, Ibiza, Lugo, Deportivo, Linares Deportivo, Unionistas Salamanca, Real Murcia, Gimnástic Tarragona, Castellón, Arenteiro, Sestao River, Tarazona, Teruel, Antequera, Recreativo Huelva, Atlético Sanluqueño, and Melilla. In the Second RFEF, clubs such as Avilés, Compostela, Zamora, Guijuelo, Utebo, Gernika, Tudelano, Peña Deportiva, Manresa, Terrassa, Hércules, Yeclano, Navalcarnero, Cacereño, Gimnástica Segoviana, Villanovense, Covadonga, Cayón, Barakaldo, Europe, Orihuela, Ursaria, Arandina, Marbella, Atlético Antoniano, Andratx, Messengero, Águilas, Llerenense, Valle de Egués, Náxara, Barbastro, Manchego Ciudad Real, and UCAM Murcia are listed. The Third RFEF includes Arosa, Real Jaén, Azuaga, Varea, Atlético Astorga, Manacor, Lorca Deportiva, and Atzeneta. Winners from the previous round feature Atlético Lugones, Chiclana, Buñol, Hernán Cortés, Turégano, Tardienta, Rubí, Boiro, Deportivo Murcia, and Quintanar. Federation Cup semi-finalists named are San Roque Lepe, Talavera de la Reina, UD Logroñés, and Badalona Futur. This broad field ensures plenty of drama as the draw unfolds [Source: RFEF].
In addition to the traditional pairings, fans will be watching how the early rounds shape potential clashes with the major clubs in the later stages. The format emphasizes home advantage for lower-tier teams where permitted, a factor that can turn supposed mismatches into memorable upsets and set up surprising runs through the competition. Observers often note that the Copa del Rey, by design, provides a platform for smaller clubs to showcase talent and build momentum toward larger ambitions in Spanish football [Source: RFEF].
As the draw lined up, commentators highlighted the importance of strategy, squad rotation, and travel logistics across the various divisions. Clubs aiming to maximize their cup runs will weigh the benefits of resting key players in league duties versus fielding their strongest available lineups for these knockout clashes. The event itself underscored the enduring appeal of the Copa del Rey as a national contest that blends regional pride with the dream of a cup run that could redefine a season [Source: RFEF].