Las Rozas has set the first Copa del Rey journeys for 2026/27, with clubs from Catalonia, Andorra, Aragón and the Basque Country scattered across a regionalised opening-round draw. The ties will begin on 27 October, played over one match, and Espanyol’s return to Sestao stands out among eight possible representatives from the Catalan football map.
A draw shaped by geography and the Supercopa
The draw at the Ciudad del Fútbol did not include Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid or Real Sociedad. Those four sides will enter later because of their participation in the Spanish Super Cup in January.
The remaining 16 La Liga clubs were involved among 112 qualified teams. Seven Catalan sides are already in the competition, alongside Andorra, while El Prat could become an eighth if it protects or improves its 5-1 first-leg advantage over San Rafael. Their return match was postponed after heavy rain in Catalonia over the weekend.
Regional proximity was used to form the first-round pairings, leaving open the possibility of Catalan clubs being drawn against one another. Lower-ranked sides will host opponents from higher divisions; that arrangement remains in place until teams meet a club from their own tier. Every tie before the semi-finals will be decided in a single game.
First-round ties involving Catalan and Andorran clubs
- Varea vs Andorra
- Cuarte vs Girona
- Sestao River vs Espanyol
- Utebo vs Sabadell
- Reus Futbol Club Reddis vs Barakaldo
- Manresa vs Sant Andreu
- Calamocha vs Europa
- El Prat or San Rafael vs Athletic Club
Old meetings and unfamiliar roads
Espanyol, currently the only Catalan club in the top flight, will travel to Sestao River. The clubs last crossed paths in Segunda División during 1989/90, when Espanyol won the first meeting 1-0 and the return finished 2-2. Sestao have yet to beat the Barcelona side.
Girona, relegated from the top division last season, face a first-ever match against Cuarte of the Tercera RFEF. Quique Álvarez’s team will head to Aragón for the tie.
Sabadell, newly promoted to Segunda División, also have a first meeting ahead of them at Utebo. The Aragón club have not appeared in the Copa del Rey since the 2022/23 campaign.
- Sant Andreu, a Primera Federación club, visit Manresa at El Congost. The ground last hosted this fixture in 2023/24, when the teams drew 1-1 in Group 3 of Segunda Federación.
- Europa, also competing in Primera Federación, are away to Calamocha.
- Reus Futbol Club Reddis welcome Primera Federación side Barakaldo in a tie that can break their historical balance. Reus won 2-1 in their first 1982/83 Segunda División B encounter, before Barakaldo replied with a 3-1 victory in the second.
- Andorra meet Tercera RFEF side CD Varea for the first time.
El Prat’s potential reward
El Prat hold the most attractive possible prize among the preliminary-round contenders. If the Baix Llobregat side complete the job against San Rafael after the delayed second leg, Athletic Club will come to their ground in the first round proper.
