His Majesty’s Cup to shine on the Guadalquivir

Measured by the importance of its lead-up, the grand final of the Copa del Rey Mapfre is the most significant event of the season for the extensive Spanish football family, in a spectacle of global proportions.

Next Saturday, 26 April from 22:00 (Spanish peninsular time), Barcelona and Real Madrid go head-to-head in the 123rd grand final of the Cup tournament, to be held at the imposing La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, whose recently finished renovation work will be unveiled for the clash and it includes an increased capacity for the match that will see the Copa del Rey champions crowned.

The trophy, object of desire for both teams, is scheduled to arrive this Wednesday afternoon in Seville aboard sustainable transport provided by a high-speed RENFE train to Santa Justa station, where it will have its first encounter with the Andalusian spring and with the lenses of the press cameras, which will capture the first images of the week’s undoubted star.

The following day the Copa del Rey Mapfre will sail along the waters of the Guadalquivir, passing under some of its emblematic points such as the Triana Bridge and flanked by some of the legends of the national team, who will escort the trophy to the Palace of San Telmo, where it will be received by the presidents of the RFEF and the Junta of Andalusia.

An institutional ceremony will serve to inaugurate the exhibition on the history of the tournament and it will be on display at the palace, seat of the presidency of Andalusia, until the day of the grand final.

OPENING HOURS OF THE COPA DEL REY MAPFRE EXHIBITION AT THE SAN TELMO PALACE 

Then, on Friday, the day before the match, it will be the turn of the finalists, who are due to arrive in Seville during the day to prepare for the encounter with the following schedule of events, which can also be followed live through the official channels of the Royal Spanish Football Federation:

LIVE EVENTS SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY 25 APRIL (OFFICIAL RFEF CHANNELS)

On the same Friday, 25 April, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Royal Alcázar of Seville, will host the official Cup Final dinner, with a strong presence of civil and sporting authorities, as well as representatives from the participating clubs, as a way to bring the eve of the most eagerly awaited match to a close.

Undoubtedly, however, it will be the fans of both teams who bring colour and warmth to a final that will adorn the streets of Seville, transformed into a space for harmony, enjoyment, and sporting spirit among supporters.

For this reason, the RFEF will set up the Fair Play Area in the Andalusian capital as points of information, socialising, environmental awareness, and entertainment for both sets of fans. Supporters will also be able to meet in the central Plaza de la Encarnación (popularly known as “Las Setas”) and take home various mementoes from the final on both Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April.

On the banks of the Guadalquivir, next to the Fernando de Magallanes Park, SEAT—official sponsor of the tournament—will also provide supporters with a Fun Zone, with dozens of exciting activities to help make the build up to the big match even more enjoyable.

A packed La Cartuja Stadium in Seville will have the honour of becoming the epicentre of world football on Saturday, with a spectacular display of lights, sound, and top-level artists, which will be broadcast live through the RFEF’s official channels from 20:00.

Just one hour earlier, at seven in the evening, the gates of the Andalusian coliseum will open as a grand finale to several thrilling days in the Andalusian capital, which once again this year will offer all its charm and magic to the Copa del Rey Mapfre.