Spain postpones 24 Copa del Rey fixtures after Toledo train crash kills at least 64

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has postponed all 24 Copa del Rey first-round fixtures due to take place on Wednesday after a high-speed train crash in the Toledo region of Spain killed at least 64 people and left countless others injured.

The disaster occurred on Wednesday morning when a high-speed train collided with the back of another in the Toledo province. A large-scale rescue operation is underway to retrieve survivors and treat the wounded.

In a formal statement, the RFEF said: “As a sign of respect and solidarity with all the victims of the tragic train accident that occurred early this Wednesday morning in the province of Toledo, the RFEF has suspended all 24 matches of the first round of the Spanish Championship-Copa del Rey originally scheduled for this afternoon and evening, as well as all other matches in competitions organised by the RFEF.”

The federation added that revised scheduling and confirmed kick-off times for the postponed matches would be announced in the coming days, and described the Spanish football community as “united in grief at the tragedy, offering its support to the authorities to help the victims of this devastating accident.”

Among the clubs affected by the postponements are top-flight sides Real Betis, Valencia, and Celta Vigo. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid — who are not due to enter the Copa del Rey until December — have each released statements expressing condolences in the wake of the crash.

No announcement has yet been made regarding whether Copa del Rey fixtures later in the week will also be affected. La Liga matches scheduled for this weekend are currently set to proceed as planned.

Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian Regional Government, declared three days of official mourning across the region. “We declare three days of official mourning in Andalusia, from 14:00 today until 14:00 next Saturday, October 31,” he said. “We are devastated. All of Andalusia stands with the victims of this new railway accident.”