The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced new dates for 24 Copa del Rey first-round ties, which were postponed following a devastating rail crash near Urda station in Toledo province. The tragic incident, which occurred on 28 October, resulted in 68 fatalities and left 80 people injured.
Out of respect for the victims, the RFEF called off all Copa del Rey first-round matches scheduled for that evening, along with other competitions it organises.
Rescheduled Fixtures Confirmed
The rescheduled fixtures will now take place between 29 October and 13 November. Several prominent clubs, including Valencia, Real Betis, and Celta Vigo, will play their cup ties during the upcoming November international break.
Deportivo Alavés is set to face regional side Anaitasuna on Tuesday, 3 November. Two days later, on Thursday, 5 November, Levante UD will travel to play CD Tarancón. Also on 5 November, RCD Mallorca will play their tie away at CD Alcoyano.
Celta Vigo will conclude the rearranged first round when they visit Salamanca on Friday, 13 November.
Impact on Club Schedules
The rescheduling presents a significant challenge for the affected clubs, particularly those in Spain’s top flight. Valencia, Real Betis, and Celta Vigo will now have to navigate their Copa del Rey fixtures during the November international break, a period when many of their key players are typically away representing their national teams. This could force managers to rely on squad depth or younger players for these crucial cup ties.
Beyond the international break, the sudden addition of a new fixture disrupts carefully planned schedules. For instance, RCD Mallorca, a Segunda División side actively pursuing automatic promotion, faces a rearranged cup trip to CD Alcoyano on 5 November. This match now precedes a vital second-tier league fixture away to Andorra just three days later, adding pressure to their promotion campaign.
Background to the Postponement
The original Copa del Rey first round was planned for a single evening on 28 October, as per the season’s fixture draw. The decision to postpone was made swiftly by the RFEF as a mark of national mourning following the severe rail accident. The 2026/27 calendar had originally set the Copa del Rey second round for 2 December.