For 1. FC Köln, winning the DFB Cup was like a carnival party. But now the billy goats are threatened with a carnival collision in the quarter-finals of all places.
1. FC Köln is happy about reaching the DFB Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years. Many fans have already taken out the calendar and realized that they still have to be patient with their planning, because the round of the last eight teams will take place in February not on one, but on two dates.
The four games will be played on February 4th, 5th and 25th and 26th, 2025, each at 8:45 p.m. Four individual games at prime time on TV, and one of them with FC participation. When it comes to the billy goats, one of the most important questions regarding the draw is: Will there be a clash of dates with the carnival session?
As is well known, the highlight of the session begins on February 27th with Weiberfastnacht. Two days before, on February 25th, the FC invited people to its traditional carnival session at the Maritim Hotel on Heumarkt. The invitations have already been sent out and they say: “Together with you, we would like to let all our dreams blossom at the traditional FC carnival session.” But now the cup dreams are getting in the way.
The problem can probably be solved because the German Football Association usually takes into account the time constraints of the respective clubs when scheduling the games. As far as possible, the FC will not compete on February 25th and probably not on February 26th either. Especially in the case of an FC home game, the local security authorities would also have something against it. The police are unlikely to have any interest in an FC home game in Müngersdorf right before Weiberfastnacht.
But first you need the draw. This will take place on December 15th from 3:45 p.m. Then fans, players and those responsible will know whether the billy goats will actually play a home game for the third time in a row in this DFB Cup season and who the opponent will be. Is there a feasible duel against third division team Arminia Bielefeld or will there be a clash against arch-rivals Bayer Leverkusen? Together with Bielefeld, FC is one of the two underdogs in the remaining field with a total of six Bundesliga teams.
By reaching the last eight, FC have already exceeded their own expectations but fulfilled the hopes of many fans. Since the last big final for the Billy Goats in 1991 against Werder Bremen, Cologne have only made it to the semi-finals in 1994/95 and 2001/02; the quarter-final appearances in 2002/03 and 2009/10 were the last highlights in an otherwise long period of over 30 years Time disappointing cup history. Things are finally different again this season.