The full schedule for the "Final Six" of the Russian Cup 2026, which will take place from May 12 to 17 in Moscow, in the Dinamo Arena, has become clear. The current trophy holder Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) is in Group B along with Zenit-Kazan and Dinamo-LO (Sosnovy Bor). Only the first two teams advance to the semifinals.
Groups in the "Final Six"
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Dinamo (Moscow) | Zenit-Kazan |
| Zenit (Saint Petersburg) | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) |
| Belogorie (Belgorod) | Dinamo-LO (Sosnovy Bor) |
Group B pits three teams with different profiles against each other, with Lokomotiv needing to balance between Kazan's powerful style and the more unpredictable Dinamo-LO.
Lokomotiv's Schedule (Bulgarian time)
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| May 12 | 15:00 | Lokomotiv – Dinamo-LO |
| May 13 | 18:00 | Zenit-Kazan – Lokomotiv |
The first match is a must-win if Lokomotiv wants to control its destiny. The clash with Zenit-Kazan will almost certainly determine the final standings in the group.
Full tournament schedule (Bulgarian time)
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| May 12 | 15:00 | Lokomotiv – Dinamo-LO |
| May 12 | 18:00 | Dinamo – Belogorie |
| May 13 | 15:00 | Zenit SPb – Belogorie |
| May 13 | 18:00 | Zenit-Kazan – Lokomotiv |
| May 14 | 15:00 | Dinamo-LO – Zenit-Kazan |
| May 14 | 18:00 | Dinamo – Zenit SPb |
| May 16 | 15:00 | Semifinal 1 |
| May 16 | 18:00 | Semifinal 2 |
| May 17 | 15:00 | Match for 3rd place |
| May 17 | 18:00 | Final |
The times are convenient for the Bulgarian audience, with evening matches attracting the most interest. The short format leaves minimal margin for error – especially for a team like Lokomotiv, which enters as the defending champion.
