Istanbul
In Istanbul the small-sided game has its own name, halı saha, and its own routine: a carpeted pitch rented for an evening, a squad that arrives in work clothes, tea afterwards. The MCC Istanbul tournament builds a 2027 competition on that habit, with three grounds across the city, each producing a Pitch Champion, and a route that runs to the World Final on 7 July 2027.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Istanbul with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
European West
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
European North-Central
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Asian Side
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Checking live availability...
Halı saha, the city's own five-a-side
Ask an Istanbullu where they play and the answer is a halı saha: a floodlit artificial pitch, often on a rooftop or in a lot behind a building, booked by the hour. Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş decide the allegiances, but the games that fill the week are between colleagues, neighbours and old school friends.
That is the pool MCC draws from. Squads of up to nine play five at a time over two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock, close to what a halı saha night already is, with the structure of a group of four and playoffs layered on top.
Two continents, three grounds
The grounds follow the shape of the city rather than a map grid. European West takes in the districts on the western side of the European shore, European North-Central covers the middle and northern parts of the same shore, and the Asian Side serves everyone across the Bosphorus. Each ground plays its own full round, so a team can choose the one on its own side of the water.
Travel is by metro, Marmaray, tram, bus and the ferries, with traffic the thing to plan around on bridge crossings. One venue will be confirmed per ground under the MCC pitch owner programme; the Istanbul page names each as soon as it has signed.
Spring fixtures and the Turkish route to the World Final
April and May in Istanbul are mild, with the odd shower. Group games take over three consecutive April weekends starting on the 9th, the knockout rounds begin on 30 April, and every ground settles its own champion on 9 May.
Those champions meet their counterparts from Ankara and Trabzon over 28 to 30 May, when Türkiye's national title is decided. The continental stage follows, and the World Final arrives on 7 July 2027. The whole route is played at amateur level.
More than a one-night cup
Companies and neighbourhoods in Istanbul run their own halı saha cups all year, usually as a single day or a short league. MCC is a full season with one published format, penalties for any level playoff tie and a ladder that climbs from national to continental level, with $20,000 for each ground's winner. Teams must be amateur and name a Team President.
The road out of Istanbul
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Istanbul
How does a team enter MCC in Istanbul?
Register on this site and pick one of Istanbul's three grounds: European West, European North-Central, Asian Side. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Istanbul?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Istanbul grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Istanbul?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Istanbul team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Türkiye title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Is MCC played on halı saha pitches?
The format is 5-a-side, the same game, though the surface depends on the venue for each ground. The Istanbul page names a venue once its agreement is signed, and the cards at the top show which grounds have one.
Which Istanbul ground should a team on the Anatolian side pick?
The Asian Side ground is the natural choice, as it serves the eastern shore of the Bosphorus. Teams are free to enter any ground, but a round of weekday evening matches is easier close to home.
Can our existing halı saha group enter as a team?
Yes, provided you field five to nine amateur players and name a Team President on the entry. Each team needs its own Team License, and a conduct policy applies to every player.
Do Istanbul teams meet teams from Ankara and Trabzon?
Yes, at the end of May 2027. The champions of all three Turkish host cities play for the national title, and whoever wins that weekend moves on to the continental stage.
Also hosting in Türkiye
Nearby in Europe
Claim a pitch in Istanbul
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years