Sevilla advanced in the Copa del Rey under the shadow of national mourning on Wednesday, October 29, 2026, while Spanish football grappled with the aftermath of the Urda railway tragedy.
The Train Disaster That Overshadowed the Cup
Spain ground to a halt at 8:55 a.m. on Wednesday following a catastrophic railway accident in Urda. The disaster instantly rendered the opening round of the Copa del Rey a secondary concern for the country. Initially, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) responded by suspending all first-round elimination matches scheduled for that Wednesday. However, while the government decreed three days of national mourning, the Federation opted to proceed with the remaining two days of fixtures rather than halt the entire tournament schedule.
Louzán, president of the RFEF, traveled to Alcalá de Henares to attend the fixture between Sporting de Hortaleza, a Primera Aficionado club, and Sevilla. The match carried a profound emotional weight given that Sevilla was the destination for the trains affected two days prior. With rail services out of operation, supporters faced grueling road journeys to reach the venue. Rubén and Antonio David drove five and a half hours from the Andalusian capital to Madrid, describing the trip not in terms of sporting anticipation, but as a difficult journey dictated by heavy spirits.
Supporters Divided Over the Decision to Play
Brothers Juan and Borja, natives of Sevilla living in Madrid and Alicante respectively, felt the tragedy intimately. One of their friends was on the train and suffered three broken ribs. While acknowledging that the match arrived at an uncomfortable time, some fans questioned where the line should be drawn, noting that La Liga fixtures were scheduled to resume by Friday regardless.
Others expressed clear disapproval. Fernando, a Sevillano living in Cáceres for work, argued that the match should not have been played out of respect for the victims. He contended that the Federation’s insistence on playing during a period of official national mourning ignored the possibility of postponing matches by two months, though he acknowledged the severe congestion of the modern football calendar. Miguel, a Sevilla supporter living in Alcalá who spent part of the day donating blood to help, echoed that sentiment alongside his partner Andrea, stating that money ultimately dictates the decision.
Sporting de Hortaleza and the Quest for Normaldom
For the local community in Hortaleza, the fixture offered a mixture of excitement and sobering reality. Fran stood alongside his son Gonzalo, a young player in the Sporting de Hortaleza academy who was visibly nervous. The father explained that playing the fixture served as an attempt to reclaim a measure of normality, noting that the pre-match observance would double as a tribute to those lost in Urda.
When the moment arrived, the stadium observed a silent tribute marked by complete stillness. Yet the extradeportive context altered the complexion of the stands. Of the 1,500 tickets allocated to visiting Andalusian supporters, more than half were returned. While Sevilla fans who did make the trip chanted and supported their club as usual, the occasion remained a sad Copa.
