Jena, May 24, 2026 – FC Carl Zeiss Jena has won the highly anticipated final of the Thüringen-Pokal. In front of a home crowd, the team narrowly defeated ZFC Meuselwitz 1-0 and celebrated an emotional home victory, which also secures entry into the first main round of the DFB-Pokal.
- Match: FC Carl Zeiss Jena vs. ZFC Meuselwitz (1:0)
- Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Venue: ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, Jena
- Attendance: 10,564
- Scorer: Manasse Eshele (45.+3 minute)
Eshele redeems the ad hoc arena before the break
It was the expectedly difficult and largely hard-fought match at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. In front of an impressive crowd of over 10,000 spectators, both teams delivered an intense duel on equal footing. Redemption for the Jena fans followed in the first half’s stoppage time: Manasse Eshele scored in the third minute of added time (45.+3) for the much-celebrated 1-0 lead for FCC.
In the second half, Jena defended the narrow lead with great passion and fighting spirit. Although Meuselwitz threw everything forward in the final phase, the hosts’ defense withstood the pressure. With the final whistle, all dams broke in the stadium – the emotional success rewards the team and its fans after a gripping cup season.
🏛️ Historical Significance and DFB-Pokal Entry
With this triumph, FC Carl Zeiss Jena crowns itself Thüringer Landespokalsieger for the 16th time and further expands its historical dominance as the record winner of the competition. The success also has enormous sporting and economic relevance: By winning the cup, FCC qualifies directly for the prestigious 1st main round of the DFB-Pokal in the upcoming 2026/2027 season. This means the club can look forward to an attractive draw from the 1st or 2nd Bundesliga as well as important TV and spectator revenue at the home Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.
Source:
FC Carl Zeiss Jena wins Thüringen Pokal 2026
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