A recent study conducted by the University of Cádiz (UCA) has uncovered evidence that the first soccer match in Spain took place in 1869 in Jerez de la Frontera. Rafael Cano, the deputy dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication at the Jerez campus, shared this information in an interview with EFE, emphasizing that the research aims to clarify historical records rather than ignite controversy. The search for older documents continues, suggesting that more insights into the origins of soccer in Spain may be unveiled in the future.

Historically, Huelva has been credited with the birth of soccer in Spain, primarily due to the establishment of the Huelva Recreation Club, now known as the Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, which was founded in 1889. However, Cano argues that evidence indicates a soccer match occurred twenty years earlier in Jerez, on February 13, 1869, between Jerez Cricket Club and the Officers of HMS Endymion, a group of sailors who arrived in Cádiz. This claim challenges long-held beliefs regarding the origins of the sport in the country.

The findings highlight the significance of Jerez in the sports history of Spain and open a discussion about the influences of British sailors on the game. All players involved in this historic match were British, as reported shortly thereafter by Gaceta de Gibraltar, indicating the sport's introduction to the Iberian Peninsula was closely linked to British expatriates. This study not only enriches the historical narrative of soccer in Spain but also demonstrates the ongoing interest in uncovering and debating the origins of popular cultural phenomena such as soccer.