The 2026-27 Copa del Rey path to La Cartuja in Seville opens with 56 first-round ties scheduled for October 27, 28, and 29, 2026, featuring 112 clubs distributed across four geographical brackets. abc.es reported that four clubs are exempt from the opening stage due to their upcoming participation in the Spanish Super Cup, which shifts to February in Turkey.
Regional Groups Minimize Travel for Competing Teams
The Royal Spanish Football Federation organized the 112 competing teams into four distinct regional groups to minimize travel and avoid same-tier matchups wherever possible. Only one fixture pits two teams from the same division against each other: a lone Primera Federación clash in Group 3. Under tournament regulations, the lower-division club hosts the single-leg tie, with extra time and penalty shootouts available if scores remain level after 90 minutes. ABC.es reported that the ball draw determined home-field rights for the sole intra-division fixture in Group 3.
Group 1 features top-flight entries Celta, Racing de Santander, and Deportivo facing regional and lower-tier challengers such as Ribadesella and Auriense. Group 2 pairs Espanyol, Athletic Club, Alavés, and Osasuna against northern counterparts, including a matchup between Sestao River and RCD Espanyol. Group 3 sends Villarreal, Valencia, Elche, Levante, and Málaga to Mediterranean and southern venues like CD Manacor and Villarreal. Group 4 rounds out the bracket with Real Betis, Getafe, Rayo Vallecano, and Sevilla drawing lower-league travelers such as Navalcarnero and Real Betis Balompié.
Complete Fixture List for the Opening Stage
The October slate pairs regional qualifiers directly against professional opposition across Spain:
- Ribadesella vs. Racing de Santander
- Auriense vs. Deportivo de La Coruña
- Salamanca CF vs. Celta de Vigo
- CD Covadonga vs. Real Valladolid
- CD Guijuelo vs. Real Sporting de Gijón
- CD Laredo vs. Burgos
- CD Numancia vs. Real Oviedo
- Arosa vs. Pontevedra
- Llanera vs. Ponferradina
- Tordesillas vs. Mirandés
- Gimnástica Segoviana vs. Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
- Coruxo vs. Zamora
- Real Ávila vs. Unionistas
- Gimnástica Torrelavega vs. UD Ourense
- Atlético Calatayud vs. CA Osasuna
- CD Anaitasuna vs. Deportivo Alavés
- AE Prat / San Rafael vs. Athletic Club
- Sestao River vs. RCD Espanyol
- CD Varea vs. Andorra
- CD Cuarte vs. Girona FC
- CD Pamplona vs. Eibar
- Utebo FC vs. CE Sabadell FC
- Peña Sport FC vs. SD Huesca
- CD Tudelano vs. Real Zaragoza
- CD Manresa vs. US Sant Andreu
- CF Calamocha vs. CE Europa
- Reus vs. Barakaldo CF
- SD Amorebieta vs. UD Logroñés
- Club Portugalete vs. Real Unión Club
- US Tavernes vs. Valencia CF
- UD Pinatar vs. Elche
- Sporting Alcázar vs. Málaga CF
- CD Tarancón vs. Levante UD
- CD Manacor vs. Villarreal
- Castellonense vs. UD Almería
- CD Alcoyano vs. RCD Mallorca
- UB Conquense vs. Castellón
- Poblense vs. AD Ceuta
- CS Puertollano vs. Albacete
- CD Cieza vs. Granada
- Atlético Baleares vs. Eldense
- CD Minera vs. FC Cartagena
- CP Mijas Las Lagunas vs. Real Jaén CF
- Antequera vs. Águilas FC
- UB Lebrijana vs. Getafe CF
- Atlético Güimar / Sporting Hortaleza vs. Sevilla FC
- Recreativo de Huelva vs. Rayo Vallecano
- Navalcarnero vs. Real Betis Balompié
- Trival Valderas Alcorcón vs. CD Leganés
- RSD Alcalá vs. UD Las Palmas
- CD Badajoz vs. CD Tenerife
- Xerez CD vs. Cádiz CF
- CD Atlético Paso vs. Córdoba CF
- UD San Sebastián de los Reyes vs. CD Coria
- CD Don Benito vs. CD Extremadura
- CD Ciudad de Lucena vs. CD Rayo Majadahonda
Super Cup Participants Enter Tournament in December
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Atlético de Madrid sit out the opening two rounds because they compete in the Spanish Super Cup, which relocates to February in Turkey. The 56 winners from October advance directly to the second eliminatoria scheduled for December 1, 2, and 3, 2026. The four Super Cup participants enter the tournament later during the round of thirty-two on December 15, 16, and 17, 2026.
Television coverage in Spain features matches involving the 16 Primera División clubs broadcast live via TVE and Movistar Plus+. The Spanish football federation continues discussions with regional television networks to secure broadcast agreements for remaining fixtures across local channels.
Regional Television Negotiations Remain Pending for Lower-Tier Matches
With the opening fixtures locked for October 27–29, 2026, attention turns to regional television negotiations for lower-tier matchups. While TVE and Movistar Plus+ hold the rights for top-flight encounters, final broadcast confirmations for regional stadiums remain pending ahead of kickoff week.
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