Thrilling Round of 16
This Wednesday, the next round of the tournament was set, to be played between January 13 and 15, featuring the final 16 teams still standing.
The Copa del Rey MAPFRE is entering its decisive phase, with maximum responsibility and sky-high excitement among the remaining contenders. This Wednesday, the 16 teams still alive in the competition learned their fate, as the Round of 16 matchups were drawn for the most exciting, authentic, and unique tournament in Spanish football.
The draw took place at 1:00 p.m. in the Luis Aragonés Hall, with teams split into three pots. The first included the four clubs competing this week in Jeddah in the Spanish Super Cup. The second featured the remaining LaLiga teams — seven in total — following Rayo Vallecano’s qualification on Tuesday after defeating Granada. The final pot consisted of the five Segunda División sides that have battled through to reach the Round of 16.
The Luis Aragonés Hall welcomed several distinguished figures from Spanish football on Wednesday — icons closely linked to the history and values of the Copa del Rey. Alfredo Santaelena, a three-time winner of the competition, shared fond and nostalgic memories. Claudio Arzeno, who played for Racing de Santander between 1998 and 2003, did the same. Juan Sabas also took to the stage, bringing with him a wealth of Copa experience across several clubs and two titles to his name. In addition, live connections were made to the dressing rooms of RC Deportivo de La Coruña and Albacete Balompié to capture the atmosphere ahead of such a crucial round.
The Round of 16 matches will be played on January 13, 14, and 15 — the week immediately following the Spanish Super Cup. The competition will then take a short break before the quarterfinals on February 3, 4, and 5. There is no tournament quite like the Copa del Rey, with 16 teams dreaming of continuing their journey toward glory. Only two will make it to the grand final at La Cartuja.