At the doorstep of a dream
The representatives of the 20 territorial football clubs gather in Las Rozas before the draw for the qualifying phase of the Copa del Rey.
With the excitement of knowing they are on the verge of making a dream come true, the representatives of the 20 territorial football clubs participating in this qualifying phase had their first encounter with the Copa del Rey at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, just a few hours before the draw for the qualifying round.
Here are the match-ups for the qualifying round of the Copa del Rey.
In an informative meeting, the Competitions department of the RFEF outlined the technical specifications and various needs that they must meet in their facilities for the matches in this phase of the oldest competition in Spanish football. In this meeting, the 20 teams from territorial football will vie for 10 spots to enter the draw for the first Copa del Rey round, where they are assured of facing a top-tier Spanish football team.
A showcase for modest football.
The Copa del Rey, the most inclusive, can take top-tier teams to towns with less than a thousand inhabitants to compete against clubs separated by five categories. The magic of the Copa brings the passion and excitement of football to every corner of our geography. And the stories of the clubs also hold some interesting memories.
An example is Hernán Cortés, a club from Badajoz in a smaller local entity of the city of Don Benito, which has a history of just 50 years. You read it right: what is not more than half a century old is not just the club, but the town itself. But history doesn't matter when the ball starts rolling, and it's the game and the warmth of the fans that can tip the scales.
Another intriguing case is CD Zirauki, from the Navarrese town of the same name. It's a town of 500 inhabitants whose team is managed by selfless football-loving neighbors. "One team, one town, one feeling" is the motto of the squad that, along with the whole town, is determined to go all out to enter the Olympus of football gods.
Representatives from all these teams shared information and a meal before finding out what the draw had in store for them. With the match-ups determined, all that's left is for the ball to start rolling. Good luck to everyone.
