About North Cyprus · Sport
Sport and outdoor activities in North Cyprus
As of 24 October 2026, the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (KTFF) runs football leagues in North Cyprus, from the AKSA Süper Lig to regional and youth leagues, and its national teams play in CONIFA competitions rather than FIFA or UEFA events. Other sports have their own federations, listed by the TRNC National Olympic Committee. This page summarises what the KTFF, federations, Visit North Cyprus and dated news reports say about football, other sports, recurring events, walking, diving, golf, riding and sailing, with each claim attributed to its source.
Checked 27 October 2026 against the sources named in the text and listed below. Positions of parties are attributed to them.
Football: the KTFF and its leagues
According to the KTFF history page, the Kıbrıs Türk Spor Teşkilatı was founded at a congress on 30 October 1955, its leagues started on 19 December 1955 with 40 clubs, and it was renamed Kıbrıs Türk Futbol Federasyonu on 5 April 1959. The KTFF writes that the body was formed after Turkish teams were excluded from the Cyprus Football Association, which Turkish Cypriots had co-founded in 1934. It also records that its leagues were suspended for five seasons from December 1963 and were not played in 1974-75.
The KTFF league pages list the AKSA Süper Lig, AKSA 1.Lig, AKSA A2 Süper Lig and AKSA A2 1.Lig, the regional BTM 1.Lig in Red and White groups, and the Digiturk Kıbrıs U17 Elit and Bölgesel leagues. According to the KTFF champions list, Gençlik Gücü TSK won the 16-team 2025-2026 top division with 73 points, after Mağusa Türk Gücü had won every title from 2021-2022 to 2024-2025.
Wikipedia's season article, which cites KTFF fixtures and a Sporyeni report, describes the 2025-26 format: the bottom two teams are relegated directly, and teams finishing 11th to 14th play a relegation stage. The KTFF also runs the Kıbrıs Kupası and a women's league, whose 2026-2027 applications it opened in October 2026.
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Football's international status
According to the KTFF history page, its applications to join FIFA in its early years and in 1972 did not succeed, and a special permission for foreign matches that FIFA granted in 1975 was cancelled in 1983 after the TRNC was declared. The TRNC is recognised only by Turkey. Hürriyet Daily News reported in 2013 that FIFA and UEFA recognise the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) as the island's only international football authority.
On 5 November 2013 the CFA and the Turkish Cypriot association signed a provisional arrangement at FIFA headquarters in Zurich under which the Turkish Cypriot body would become a CFA member, according to Hürriyet Daily News. T-Vine reported in 2019 that the arrangement was not implemented and attributed this to obstacles raised by Greek Cypriot sports officials. Cyprus Mail reported in February 2024 that CFA chairman George Koumas said the CFA "will not allow any change in the status of football in Cyprus".
The KTFF writes that it became a founding member of the N.F. Board in 2003, later joined CONIFA, and hosted the 2017 CONIFA European championship in North Cyprus, finishing second. Al Jazeera reported that Northern Cyprus lost the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup final in London on penalties. BRTK reported on 8 June 2026 that the TRNC team won the 2026 CONIFA European Championship final 6-1 against Padania.
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Other federations and Turkish Cypriot athletes
The TRNC sports directorate (Spor Dairesi) publishes a federations page, but it could not be opened when this page was checked, so the list here follows the TRNC National Olympic Committee (KKTC MOK). Its Olympic branches page lists federations for cycling, triathlon, shooting, athletics, boxing, archery, volleyball, aquatic sports, badminton, kickboxing and muaythai, fencing, disabled sports, wrestling, table tennis and tennis.
According to its history page, the KKTC MOK was announced on 15 December 1983 with 41 founding members and organised the first KKTC Sports Games from 19 May 1999. Federation websites show activity in 2026: the triathlon federation reports races at İskele, the volleyball federation lists 2026-2027 leagues, and the aquatic sports federation posted an open water race notice.
Athletes appear here only where a named source describes them. Wikipedia and a Medyascope column describe high jumper Buse Savaşkan, born in North Cyprus, who competed for Turkey at the Paris 2024 Olympics. TRT Haber reported on swimmer Doğukan Ulaç's result at an open water event in 2022.
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Recurring public events
Only events for which a source gives a recent edition date are listed. DHA reported on 11 October 2026 that the Girne Half Marathon 2026, organised by Girne Municipality on Kordonboyu with 5, 10 and 21 km races, had been held, with proceeds going to families affected by a sea accident off Girne on 30 August.
On the water, BRTK reported the second North Cyprus Sailing and Maritime Festival at Girne Marina from 24 to 30 June 2024, organised by Girne Marina and the Mediterranean Sailing Association. Bengütürk reported in July 2025 that the Cyprus leg of the 6th Presidential International Yacht Races started from Marmaris on 20 July and finished at Karpaz Gate Marina after 340 nautical miles.
In football, the KTFF season runs from autumn to May, with the Kıbrıs Kupası final held in May. Dates change from year to year, so organisers' own pages are the reference for future editions.
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Walking, cycling, diving, golf, riding and sailing
According to Visit North Cyprus, a tourism promotion site, the Beşparmak Mountain Trail, also known as the Kyrenia Mountain Trail, is "the official long walking trail of North Cyprus", set as 18 stages over 260 km from Cape Kormakitis in the west to Cape Zafer at the tip of the Karpaz Peninsula. The site points to downloadable brochures for individual stages. Plants and animals along the range are covered on Flora and fauna, and the castles on Castles of North Cyprus.
Visit North Cyprus also describes diving centred on Kyrenia, an 18-hole golf course at Esentepe, riding clubs in Çatalköy, Karaoğlanoğlu and Kozan, boat and yachting trips from Kyrenia, Famagusta and Boğaz, and tandem paragliding from the Beşparmak range. These are the site's descriptions, not recommendations. Beaches and coastal rules are on Beaches and coast.
On heat and fire, Türk Ajansı Kıbrıs (TAK) reported in April 2026 that lighting fires in forested areas is forbidden until 31 October, citing the Fire Department of the Police General Directorate. Bengütürk reported that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security banned outdoor work in direct sun between 12:00 and 16:00 from 22 July to 1 August 2026. Seasonal climate is covered on Weather and seasons.
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Practical notes
- The Spor Dairesi federations page (spor.gov.ct.tr) returned an error on 24 October 2026, so the federation list follows the KKTC MOK Olympic branches page and may be incomplete; for example, football is not on that page.
- The KTFF history page uses its own political terms for events in 1963 and 1974; this page paraphrases them neutrally. Statements by the KTFF, the CFA and T-Vine are their own positions.
- Cyprus Mail (2024) wrote that the 2013 arrangement would have absorbed the CFA into the Turkish Cypriot association; Hürriyet Daily News (2013) reported the reverse. This page follows Hürriyet Daily News.
- Visit North Cyprus gives 112 for health emergencies and 155 for the police. The 2026 heat decision covers outdoor workers; follow official announcements for current fire and heat measures.
- No prices, opening hours or booking details are given here. The sailing festival source dates from 2024; a 2025 or 2026 edition was not confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Cyprus a member of FIFA or UEFA?
No. Hürriyet Daily News reported in 2013 that FIFA and UEFA recognise the Cyprus Football Association as the island's only international football authority. The KTFF says its FIFA applications did not succeed and that it later joined CONIFA, a body for football associations outside FIFA.
What is the top football league in North Cyprus?
The AKSA Süper Lig, run by the KTFF. According to the KTFF champions list, Gençlik Gücü TSK won the 16-team 2025-2026 season with 73 points.
Who won the 2026 CONIFA European Championship?
BRTK reported on 8 June 2026 that the TRNC national team won the final in Italy, beating Padania 6-1. The KTFF also reported that its women's team will play at the 2027 CONIFA Women's World Cup in Walsall.
What was the 2013 Zurich football agreement in Cyprus?
According to Hürriyet Daily News, the Cyprus Football Association and the Turkish Cypriot association signed a provisional arrangement at FIFA headquarters on 5 November 2013 under which the Turkish Cypriot body would join the CFA. T-Vine reported in 2019 that it was not implemented.
How long is the Kyrenia Mountain Trail?
Visit North Cyprus describes the Beşparmak or Kyrenia Mountain Trail as 260 km in 18 stages, from Cape Kormakitis to Cape Zafer on the Karpaz Peninsula, and calls it the official long walking trail of North Cyprus.
Where is diving done in North Cyprus?
Visit North Cyprus says Kyrenia is the main diving centre, with over twenty dive sites near the harbour, and mentions dive trips to the Karpaz region. It gives the season as May to October and says companies should be certified to PADI or BSAC.
Is there a golf course in North Cyprus?
Visit North Cyprus describes an 18-hole, par-72 course at Esentepe on the north coast, 6,200 metres long on 65 hectares, with a driving range and golf academy.
Which sports federations are there in the TRNC?
The TRNC National Olympic Committee lists federations for cycling, triathlon, shooting, athletics, boxing, archery, volleyball, aquatic sports, badminton, kickboxing and muaythai, fencing, disabled sports, wrestling, table tennis and tennis. Football is run by the KTFF.
Are there running races in North Cyprus?
DHA reported that Girne Municipality held the Girne Half Marathon 2026 on Kordonboyu, with 5, 10 and 21 km races, before 11 October 2026. The KKTC Atletizm Federasyonu website also carries marathon and road race announcements.
Can you light a fire in forests in North Cyprus?
TAK reported in April 2026 that the Fire Department of the Police General Directorate said lighting fires in forested areas is forbidden until 31 October.
Sources
- KTFF: Tarihçe (history)
- KTFF: Ligler (leagues)
- KTFF: Lig şampiyonları (league champions)
- KTFF: Kupa şampiyonları (cup champions)
- KTFF: Kadınlar ligi şampiyonları (women's champions)
- KTFF: Saber Mutfak Kadınlar Ligi applications (9 October 2026)
- KTFF: BTM 1.Lig fixture drawn (16 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: 2025–26 KTFF Süper Lig
- Hürriyet Daily News: Cypriot football unified with historic deal (2013)
- T-Vine: Kicked into touch (2019)
- Cyprus Mail: CFA will not accept Turkish Cypriots' attempts to join world football (2024)
- Al Jazeera: Karpatalja wins alternative football world cup (2018)
- BRTK: National team crowned CONIFA European champions (2026)
- KTFF: Ekmekçi press conference statement (2 June 2026)
- KTFF: Women's team to play CONIFA World Cup (19 October 2026)
- KKTC MOK: Olympic branch federations
- KKTC MOK: History
- KKTC Voleybol Federasyonu
- Kıbrıs Türk Triatlon Federasyonu
- Kuzey Kıbrıs Su Sporları Federasyonu
- KKTC Atletizm Federasyonu
- Karar: KKTC taekwondo feature (2016)
- Wikipedia: Buse Savaşkan
- Medyascope: Doğa Üründül column (2024)
- TRT Haber: Turkish Cypriot swimmer Doğukan Ulaç (2022)
- DHA: Girne Half Marathon 2026 completed
- BRTK: North Cyprus Sailing and Maritime Festival (2024)
- Bengütürk: Presidential International Yacht Races Cyprus leg ends (2025)
- Visit North Cyprus: Besparmak Mountain Trail
- Visit North Cyprus: Biking
- Visit North Cyprus: Diving
- Visit North Cyprus: Golf
- Visit North Cyprus: Horse riding
- Visit North Cyprus: Boat tours
- Visit North Cyprus: Paragliding
- Visit North Cyprus: Sport & Training
- Visit North Cyprus: Health & Safety
- TAK: Fire ban in forested areas until 31 October (2026)
- Bengütürk: Outdoor work ban in extreme heat (2026)
- KKTC Basketbol Federasyonu: 2026-27 season calendar
- Kuzey Kıbrıs Okçuluk Federasyonu
- KKTC Dağcılık Spor Derneği: routes
Questions about North Cyprus?
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