Copa Del Rey
In short
The Copa del Rey is the annual knockout football tournament in Spain organised by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. It is the oldest national football competition in the country, dating back to 1903.
In plain words
Teams play against each other in a knockout format, meaning if you lose once, you are out. The winner gets a trophy and a place in the UEFA Europa League. It includes many clubs from different levels of Spanish football.
A simple example
A small village team might be drawn to play against a giant like Real Madrid in an early round. If the small team wins, they move to the next stage, but if they lose, their journey ends.
Why it matters
It provides a chance for smaller clubs to achieve glory and compete against the world's best players. Winning also offers a direct route to European competition.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with La Liga, which is the standard league format where teams play everyone else in a points system.