Elche is banking on a summer spectacle that blends history with football ambition. The Festa d’Elx Cup, now in its 62nd edition, remains a summer tradition held during the city’s August festivities. The event grows from a local showcase into a nationally watched pre-season fixture that tests preparations ahead of the league campaign. Historically, this tournament paused briefly in some years, but its purpose endures: to bring together teams, fans, and the city in a shared celebration of football and culture. A recent pattern shows the organizers leaning into the late-summer schedule to maximize participation and spectator turnout.
In previous editions, the competition faced interruptions. It was not staged in 2019 after a long streak of uninterrupted editions, due in part to reseeding work at the Martínez Valero stadium that affected the playing surface. The 2020 edition was canceled because of the pandemic, a disruption that echoed across leagues and tournaments worldwide. The Elche club pressed forward, and the campaign resumed with the usual fervor once the conditions allowed. By August the team stood ready to sharpen its form within the broader context of the season.
It returned to its regular rhythm in 2021, and on August 7 that year the event featured a match against a rising side with Valencian ties, a result remembered for its spirited display. The following year, there was talk of rescheduling to December 2022 due to the Qatar World Cup that year, but the plan shifted as schedules contoured around global events. The aim remained clear: preserve the essence of the Festa while adapting to contemporary calendars and constraints.
The Festa d’Elx trophy returns and will face an English team from the Elche Premier. The anticipation surrounds a squad that has earned its place in the city’s traditions and in the competitive conversation around August fixtures. This edition builds on the momentum of past champions and the prestige associated with a trophy that locals regard as a summer highlight.
During the World Cup break in LaLiga season, game 61 was played between Leeds United, a Premier League club with a storied English pedigree, and the Elche banners nearby. The British side claimed a 1-2 victory in that December clash, a result that resonated in the memory banks of Elche supporters and added another layer to the trophy’s long narrative.
The Leeds United captain lifted the trophy as the winner of the Festa d’Elx last edition, a moment recorded in local memory and reported by sports journalists who covered the event. The narrative of the cup is interwoven with the city’s daily life, its markets, its streets, and the late-summer rhythms of August.
This year, Elche club aims to return to normalcy with a bold plan for the weekend of 3-6 August. The schedule is crafted to maximize engagement, with a focus on hosting a highly watched match on Saturday night to draw in a larger audience. The tournament then serves as a precursor to the season’s competitive peak, with the following weekend marking the start of the second division, and the broader first-team program serving as a test bed for the squad’s readiness.
From the club’s side, the sports commission and its owner are exploring arrangements that will attract fan interest, including a potential foreign opponent that would raise the profile of the event. Free access for subscribers is part of the strategy to boost participation and drive attendance, while still preserving the club’s commercial goals.
The overarching objective is to restore the Festa d’Elx to its status as a premier summer tournament in Spain, one that reflects the city’s passion for football and its appetite for high-level competition in the warm months. It remains a platform for showcasing local talent alongside selected visitors, reinforcing the tradition while inviting new chapters in the event’s evolving history.
The club is reportedly seeking the presence of a team from Spain’s top division, and there is openness to an international guest if the right fit emerges. The festival atmosphere, the warmth of the fans, and the sense of occasion are all part of the appeal, drawing visitors from across the national territory during a period traditionally associated with the city’s celebrations.
In this refreshed frame, the Festa d’Elx is positioned not merely as a summer match but as a cultural event that honors past glories while stitching in modern competitiveness. The aim is to maintain momentum, excite the fanbase, and ensure a memorable milestone in the annual football calendar. The organizers hope the event will continue to grow in stature, attracting wider attention and sustaining the pride that Elche fans have cherished for generations.
Note on sources: information compiled from official club records and contemporary match reports, with attribution to recognized sports journalists and archival coverage.