Quarter-final ties in the Ziraat Turkish Cup are about to be confirmed, with the decisive draw scheduled to shape the road to the trophy for the remaining eight sides.
The Turkish Football Federation will conduct the draw for both the quarter-finals and semi-finals today at 14:00 in Istanbul, at the Ziraat Bank Auditorium in the Istanbul Finance Center. Club representatives from all eight qualified teams will attend the ceremony, where the brackets for the last eight and the route to the final will be officially determined.
How the last eight were decided
The group phase of the Ziraat Turkish Cup has now been completed, and the quarter-final lineup was finalized last week. Three groups produced the core of the last eight, with the top two from each pool qualifying directly and two additional spots reserved for the best third-placed sides.
– Group A:
Galatasaray and Trabzonspor finished in the top two positions, earning direct passage to the quarter-finals.
– Group B:
Samsunspor and TÜMOSAN Konyaspor took the first two spots and booked their places in the last eight.
– Group C:
Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe claimed the top two positions to move on.
In addition, Gençlerbirliği from Group B and Alanyaspor from Group A grabbed the remaining tickets as the two best third-placed teams across all groups.
Seeded and unseeded teams
For the quarter-final draw, a seeding system will be used based on group-phase performance:
Seeded clubs (pot 1):
– Galatasaray
– Samsunspor
– Beşiktaş
– Konyaspor
These four teams either finished first in their groups or, in Konyaspor’s case, emerged as the best-performing second-placed side.
Unseeded clubs (pot 2):
– Trabzonspor
– Alanyaspor
– Gençlerbirliği
– Fenerbahçe
These teams will be paired against the seeded clubs, with one unseeded team allocated to each seeded side.
Draw rules and restrictions
The quarter-final draw will follow several clear principles:
– Seed advantage:
Seeded teams will enjoy home advantage. All quarter-final matches will be single-leg ties played on the pitch of the seeded club.
– No same-group clashes in the quarter-finals:
Clubs that faced each other in the same group cannot be drawn against one another in the quarter-finals. This restriction is intended to increase variety and avoid immediate rematches of recent fixtures from the group phase.
– Single-leg knockout format:
Every quarter-final tie will be decided in one match. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the game will move to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out to determine which team advances.
In addition to these rules for the quarter-finals, the semi-final pairings will also be determined during the same draw. That means clubs will not only find out their immediate opponent, but also their potential path to the final – who they could face in the semi-finals depending on results.
When the quarter-finals will be played
The Ziraat Turkish Cup quarter-final matches are scheduled to take place on 21, 22 and 23 April. Final exact dates and kick-off times for each tie will be announced after the draw, allowing clubs and supporters to plan their schedules around this decisive phase of the competition.
The eight teams still in contention
The clubs that have made it through to the quarter-finals are:
– Seeded: Galatasaray, Samsunspor, Beşiktaş, Konyaspor
– Unseeded: Trabzonspor, Alanyaspor, Gençlerbirliği, Fenerbahçe
This mix guarantees at least one representative from each of Turkey’s traditional giants, while also offering a stage for ambitious sides like Samsunspor, Alanyaspor and Gençlerbirliği to chase a surprise deep run in the cup.
What to expect from the draw
With the big four of Turkish football – Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor – all in the last eight, the draw has the potential to produce blockbuster encounters, even without immediate group rematches. Because certain teams cannot be paired due to the “same-group” restriction, the draw will unfold within a limited set of combinations, but there is still room for high-drama matchups.
Supporters will be watching especially closely to see:
– Whether the traditional giants avoid each other until the semi-finals or final.
– Which of the seeded teams is handed a theoretically more favorable draw against one of the underdogs.
– How the semi-final route shapes potential derbies or heavyweight clashes.
Strategic importance for the clubs
For many clubs, the Turkish Cup is more than just a trophy: it can provide European qualification, boost club prestige and offer financial benefits through prize money and matchday revenues. For teams struggling in the league, a strong cup run can rescue a season and ease pressure on coaching staff and players.
– Powerhouse clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş often see the cup as an additional trophy they are expected to compete for every year.
– Challengers such as Samsunspor, Konyaspor, Alanyaspor and Gençlerbirliği may view this as a unique chance to write history, reach a rare final, or secure silverware.
The single-leg format in the quarter-finals levels the playing field to some extent, as one strong performance can be enough for an upset.
Home advantage as a key factor
Because the quarter-finals are single-leg fixtures hosted by seeded sides, playing at home becomes a crucial element. Seeded clubs benefit from:
– Familiar pitch and conditions
– Support of home fans
– Reduced travel fatigue and disturbance to routine
For unseeded teams, the task is more demanding: they must deliver a complete performance away from home, remain compact defensively and take their chances effectively. However, the nature of knockout football also means that an early goal or a red card can completely alter the balance, leaving room for surprises.
Semi-finals and beyond
The semi-finals will already be mapped out after today’s ceremony. Although only the pairings and bracket paths will be known at this stage, clubs will be able to:
– Anticipate their potential semi-final opponent.
– Plan squad rotation and fitness management around prospective cup and league clashes.
– Assess their realistic route to the final, including possible derbies or historic matches.
While the quarter-finals are one-off matches, the semi-final stage traditionally involves a different format, and teams must be ready for a tougher, more tactical two-leg contest.
New format starting from the 2026-27 season
Beyond the immediate excitement of this season’s knockout rounds, the Turkish Football Federation has already outlined a significant structural change for the Ziraat Turkish Cup starting from the 2026-27 campaign.
From that season onward, the competition will follow a fully knockout-based model, structured as follows:
– 5 preliminary knockout rounds
– Round of 16
– Quarter-finals
– Semi-finals
– Final
Under the revised format:
– All stages, except the semi-finals, will be played as single-leg knockout ties.
– The semi-finals will be conducted over two legs, home and away, to determine the finalists.
– The entire competition, from the earliest elimination rounds through to the final, will be compressed into 10 dedicated “cup weeks” across the season.
This change aims to simplify the structure, reduce fixture congestion caused by group stages and maintain the tension of knockout football from the very start of the tournament. Clubs will need to adapt strategically, as there will be far fewer chances to recover from a poor performance compared to group-phase formats.
What the new format means for clubs and fans
The planned shift to a pure knockout structure has several implications:
– Higher stakes in every match:
With no group phase to provide a safety net, each tie becomes decisive. Smaller clubs have more opportunities to pull off early shocks, while larger clubs must maintain focus from the earliest rounds.
– Clearer calendar planning:
Ten specific cup weeks should make season planning more straightforward for both clubs and broadcasters, while helping to avoid severe fixture pile-ups.
– More unpredictability:
Single-elimination ties increase the chance of surprises and underdog runs, which can add drama and keep neutral supporters engaged.
– Semi-final showcase:
Two-legged semi-finals give teams a better chance to prove themselves over 180 minutes while still preserving the one-off spectacle of the final.
Looking ahead
For now, all eyes are on Istanbul and the draw that will define the quarter-final matchups and semi-final routes in this season’s Ziraat Turkish Cup. With a blend of traditional heavyweights and ambitious outsiders, and with single-leg ties adding extra tension, the upcoming matches on 21-23 April promise high-stakes football and the possibility of major storylines.
The competition is entering its decisive phase, and by the end of the draw, each of the eight remaining clubs will know exactly what stands between them and a place in the final.