Crystal Palace are set to return to Turkey for the first time in competitive action since 1998, when the Eagles featured in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Their latest visit comes in the UEFA Europa League, following the club’s recent UEFA Conference League triumph, with Beşiktaş awaiting in Istanbul.
The fixture also puts the spotlight on Crystal Palace Turkiye, an international supporters’ group formed in September 2025. The community currently has seven core members, brought together over around five months of searching for fellow Palace fans across the country. Because its members live in different parts of Turkey, meetings are arranged when possible, often over coffee or at one another’s homes.
The group described Palace’s recent success as a dream and said the club’s three major trophies over the past couple of years had made European football a particularly proud moment for supporters abroad. Although they will not be attending the match in person, Crystal Palace Turkiye plan to watch every minute on television and support the team from home.
For Palace fans spending time in Istanbul, the group recommended visiting the historic Sultanahmet district, including Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. They also suggested trying Turkish favourites such as döner and balık ekmek, a fish sandwich traditionally enjoyed by the Bosphorus.
Crystal Palace Turkiye expect a demanding contest against Beşiktaş, describing the Turkish side as one of the country’s major clubs and warning that the atmosphere in their stadium is intensely passionate. Despite that challenge, the supporters have backed Oliver Glasner’s team to claim a narrow 2-1 victory in Istanbul.
