Jena, May 22, 2026. Tomorrow, Saturday, FC Carl Zeiss Jena will play the most important remaining match of the current season. In the final of the Thüringenpokal, the Regionalliga side will face league rivals ZFC Meuselwitz at the home ad hoc Arena.
- What: Final of the Thüringenpokal (2025/2026 season)
- Who: FC Carl Zeiss Jena vs. ZFC Meuselwitz
- When: Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Where: ad hoc Arena in the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, Jena (View on Google Maps)
- Special feature: Last competitive match for head coach Volkan Uluc
A Title for Volkan Uluc’s Farewell
For the footballers of FC Carl Zeiss Jena, Saturday is about a conciliatory and successful conclusion to an intensive season. After missing out on promotion in the Regionalliga Nordost, the Thüringenpokal is now to be secured in their own stadium. For head coach Volkan Uluc, the match holds a special emotional significance: it is definitively his last game in charge on the sidelines for the Thuringians.
Uluc wants to bid farewell to the Jena supporters with a cup victory and the associated entry into the first main round of the DFB-Pokal. A transition is also imminent in the squad: it was recently announced that long-time Jena midfielder Justin Schau will end his active professional career at his own request after nine years with the club.
Opponents ZFC Meuselwitz Arrive as Underdogs
The final opponents, ZFC Meuselwitz, travel to the Saale as underdogs. Nevertheless, the duels between the two teams are traditionally considered hard-fought. Since Jena enjoys home advantage at the ad hoc Arena, the team is hoping for the same vocal support as in the recent league derby, where over 13,000 spectators found their way to the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.
Historical Context & DFB-Pokal Significance
The Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, located on the edge of the picturesque Paradiespark directly on the Saale, has been the sporting home of Jena football since 1924. The Thüringenpokal (officially TFV-Pokal) is of existential economic importance for both semi-finalists and finalists. The cup winner qualifies directly for the lucrative first main round of the DFB-Pokal, which brings the club guaranteed income in the six-figure range as well as a potential live match against a Bundesliga side. FC Carl Zeiss Jena is the historical record winner of the Thuringian association cup with numerous titles.
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Finale – Jena will den Thüringenpokal
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.