Why Barcelona and Real Madrid are missing from the Copa del Rey draw

The 2026/27 Copa del Rey begins on Monday without Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad entering the first-round draw.

A total of 112 teams will discover their opponents in the opening round, while four of Spain’s leading clubs will watch the proceedings from the sidelines. Their absence is particularly notable in a competition closely associated with Barcelona, the record winners with 32 titles, and one that is difficult to imagine without their long-standing rivals Real Madrid.

However, none of the four clubs has withdrawn from the tournament or been excluded as punishment. Their early exemption is a benefit provided for in the regulations of the Spanish Football Federation.

Why have the four clubs been exempted?

The reason is their involvement in the Spanish Super Cup. Under the federation’s rules, the four teams taking part in that competition are not required to play in the preliminary rounds of the Copa del Rey.

The four Super Cup places go to the winners and runners-up of La Liga and the Copa del Rey from the previous season. That qualification system has resulted in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad receiving the exemption this season.

The Super Cup itself has also changed location this year. After being held in Saudi Arabia for several years, the competition has moved to Istanbul.

The exemption means the four clubs will avoid the first two rounds of the Copa del Rey. According to Sport, they will begin their campaigns in the last 32, when they enter the competition alongside the teams that have progressed through the earlier stages.

Their advantage goes beyond simply playing fewer matches. The format also guarantees that their first fixture will be against one of the lowest-ranked teams still remaining in the tournament.

That arrangement gives Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad a theoretically more favourable introduction to the competition, while the other 112 sides begin the task of negotiating the opening round without Spain’s four Super Cup contenders.