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2025–26 DFB-Pokal
Football tournament season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2025–26 DFB-Pokal is the 83rd season of the annual German football cup competition. Sixty-four teams participate in the competition, including all teams from the previous year's Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. The competition began on 15 August 2025 with the first of six rounds and will end on 23 May 2026 with the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, a nominally neutral venue, which has hosted the final since 1985.[1] The DFB-Pokal is considered the second-most important club title in German football after the Bundesliga championship. The DFB-Pokal is run by the German Football Association (DFB). VfB Stuttgart are the defending champions.
The winner of the DFB-Pokal earns automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2026–27 edition of the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth, and the league's UEFA Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh. The winners will also host the 2026 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and will face the champions of the 2025–26 Bundesliga.
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Participating clubs
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The following teams qualified for the competition:
Bundesliga the 18 clubs of the 2024–25 season |
2. Bundesliga the 18 clubs of the 2024–25 season |
3. Liga the top 4 clubs of the 2024–25 season |
Representatives of the regional associations 24 representatives of 21 regional associations of the DFB, qualified (in general) through the 2024–25 Verbandspokal[note 1] | ||
Baden Bavaria[note 2]
Berlin Brandenburg
Bremen Hamburg Hesse |
Lower Rhine Lower Saxony[note 3]
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Middle Rhine Rhineland Saarland Saxony |
Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein South Baden Southwest Thuringia Westphalia[note 4]
Württemberg |
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Format
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Participation
The DFB-Pokal begins with a round of 64 teams. The 36 teams of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, along with the top four finishers of the 3. Liga automatically qualified for the tournament. Of the remaining slots, 21 were given to the cup winners of the regional football associations, the Verbandspokal. The three remaining slots were given to the three regional associations with the most men's teams, which were Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern will be given the spot for Bavaria. For Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony Cup is split into two paths: one for 3. Liga and Regionalliga Nord teams, and the other for amateur teams. The winners of each path qualified. For Westphalia, the spot rotates each season between the best-placed Westphalian team of the Regionalliga West and the best-placed amateur team of the Oberliga Westfalen. For the 2025–26 DFB-Pokal, this spot will be awarded to a team from the Regionalliga. As every team is entitled to participate in local tournaments which qualified for the association cups, every team could in principle compete in the DFB-Pokal. Reserve teams and combined football sections are not permitted to enter, along with no two teams of the same association or corporation.[3]
Draw
The draws for the different rounds are conducted as follows:[3]
For the first round, the participating teams were split into two pots of 32 teams each. The first pot contained all teams which qualified through their regional cup competitions, the best four teams of the 3. Liga, and the bottom four teams of the 2. Bundesliga. Every team from this pot was drawn to a team from the second pot, which contained all remaining professional teams (all the teams of the Bundesliga and the remaining fourteen 2. Bundesliga teams). The teams from the first pot were set as the home team in the process.
The two-pot scenario will be also applied for the second round, with the remaining 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) in the first pot and the remaining Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga teams in the other pot. Once again, the 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) serve as hosts. This time the pots will not have to be of equal size though, depending on the results of the first round. Theoretically, it was even possible that there could be only one pot, if all of the teams from one of the pots from the first round beat all the others in the second pot. Once one pot is empty, the remaining pairings will be drawn from the other pot with the first-drawn team for a match serving as hosts.
For the remaining rounds, the draw will be conducted from just one pot. Any remaining 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) will be the home team if drawn against a professional team. In every other case, the first-drawn team will serve as hosts.
Match rules
Teams meet in one game per round. Matches take place for 90 minutes, with two halves of 45 minutes each. If still tied after regulation, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, consisting of two periods of 15 minutes each. If the score is still level after this, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. A coin toss will decide who takes the first penalty.[3][4] A maximum of nine players can be listed on the substitute bench, while a maximum of five substitutions are allowed. However, each team is only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.[5] From the round of 16 onward, a video assistant referee will be appointed for all DFB-Pokal matches. Though technically possible, VAR was not used for home matches of Bundesliga clubs prior to the round of 16 in order to provide a uniform approach to all matches.[6]
Suspensions
If a player receives five yellow cards in the competition, he will then be suspended from the next cup match. Similarly, receiving a second yellow card suspends a player from the next cup match. If a player receives a direct red card, they will be suspended a minimum of one match, but the German Football Association reserves the right to increase the suspension.[3]
International qualification
The winners of the DFB-Pokal earn automatic qualification for the league stage of next year's edition of the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth place, and the league's UEFA Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh place. The winners will also host the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and will face the champions of the previous year's Bundesliga, unless the same team wins the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, completing a double. In that case, the runners-up of the Bundesliga will take the spot and host instead.
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Schedule

All draws will generally be held on a Sunday evening after each round (unless noted otherwise).[7]
The rounds of the 2025–26 competition are scheduled as follows:[1]
Matches
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Times up to 26 October 2025 and from 29 March 2026 are CEST (UTC+2). Times from 27 October 2025 to 28 March 2026 are CET (UTC+1).
First round
The draw took place on 15 June 2025, with Owen Ansah drawing the matches.[8][9] The matches were played between 15 and 27 August 2025.
15 August 2025 | FC Gütersloh | 0–5 | Union Berlin | Gütersloh |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Heidewaldstadion Attendance: 9,236 Referee: Jarno Wienefeld |
15 August 2025 | Sonnenhof Großaspach | 0–4 | Bayer Leverkusen | Aspach |
18:00[α] | Report | Stadium: WIRmachenDRUCK Arena Attendance: 8,850 Referee: Michael Bacher |
15 August 2025 | 1. FC Saarbrücken | 1–3 | 1. FC Magdeburg | Saarbrücken |
18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion Attendance: 16,003 Referee: Robin Braun |
15 August 2025 | Arminia Bielefeld | 1–0 | Werder Bremen | Bielefeld |
20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Bielefelder Alm Attendance: 26,515 Referee: Robert Hartmann |
16 August 2025 | BFC Dynamo | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | VfL Bochum | Berlin |
13:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion im Sportforum Attendance: 4,705 Referee: Felix Wagner |
16 August 2025 | FK Pirmasens | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Hamburger SV | Pirmasens |
13:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Sportpark Husterhöhe Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Timo Gansloweit |
16 August 2025 | Eintracht Norderstedt | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (2–3 p) | FC St. Pauli | Hamburg |
15:30 | Report | Stadium: Millerntor-Stadion Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Eric Weisbach | ||
Penalties | ||||
|
16 August 2025 | Hansa Rostock | 0–4 | TSG Hoffenheim | Rostock |
15:30 | Report | Stadium: Ostseestadion Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger |
16 August 2025 | SV Sandhausen | 2–4 | RB Leipzig | Sandhausen |
15:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Hardtwaldstadion Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Matthias Jöllenbeck |
16 August 2025 | Bahlinger SC | 0–5 | 1. FC Heidenheim | Bahlingen |
15:30 | Report | Stadium: Kaiserstuhlstadion Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Lukas Benen |
16 August 2025 | FV Illertissen | 3–3 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | 1. FC Nürnberg | Illertissen |
15:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Vöhlinstadion Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Patrick Alt | |
Penalties | ||||
|
16 August 2025 | SV Hemelingen | 0–9 | VfL Wolfsburg | Verden |
15:30 | Report | Stadium: Stadion am Berliner Ring Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Nico Fuchs |
16 August 2025 | VfB Lübeck | 1–2 | Darmstadt 98 | Lübeck |
18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion Lohmühle Attendance: 10,434 Referee: Leonidas Exuzidis |
16 August 2025 | Energie Cottbus | 1–0 | Hannover 96 | Cottbus |
18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion der Freundschaft Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Felix Prigan |
16 August 2025 | Sportfreunde Lotte | 0–2 | SC Freiburg | Lotte |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadion am Lotter Kreuz Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Florian Lechner |
17 August 2025 | FV Engers | 0–5 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Koblenz |
13:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadion Oberwerth Attendance: 10,100 Referee: Robert Kampka |
17 August 2025 | Viktoria Köln | 1–3 | SC Paderborn | Cologne |
13:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Sportpark Höhenberg Attendance: 8,343 Referee: Sören Storks |
17 August 2025 | Atlas Delmenhorst | 2–3 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Oldenburg |
15:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Marschweg-Stadion Attendance: 14,300 Referee: Fabienne Michel |
17 August 2025 | Lokomotive Leipzig | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Schalke 04 | Leipzig |
15:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Bruno-Plache-Stadion Attendance: 11,900 Referee: Max Burda |
17 August 2025 | Jahn Regensburg | 1–2 | 1. FC Köln | Regensburg |
15:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Jahnstadion Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Christian Dingert |
17 August 2025 | Blau-Weiß Lohne | 0–2 | Greuther Fürth | Lohne |
15:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Heinz-Dettmer-Stadion Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Felix Weller |
17 August 2025 | ZFC Meuselwitz | 0–5 | Karlsruher SC | Meuselwitz |
15:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: bluechip-Arena Attendance: 4,269 Referee: Lars Erbst |
17 August 2025 | RSV Eintracht | 0–7 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Potsdam |
15:30 | Report | Stadium: Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion Attendance: 8,500 Referee: Cristian Ballweg |
17 August 2025 | FC 08 Homburg | 0–2 | Holstein Kiel | Homburg |
18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Waldstadion Homburg Attendance: 5,123 Referee: Assad Nouhoum |
17 August 2025 | Hallescher FC | 0–2 | FC Augsburg | Halle |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Leuna-Chemie-Stadion Attendance: 14,000 Referee: Tobias Reichel |
17 August 2025 | SSV Ulm | 0–1 | SV Elversberg | Ulm |
18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Donaustadion Attendance: 9,531 Referee: Richard Hempel |
18 August 2025 | Preußen Münster | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p) | Hertha BSC | Münster |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Preußenstadion Attendance: 10,635 Referee: Martin Petersen | ||
Penalties | ||||
18 August 2025 | 1. FC Schweinfurt | 2–4 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | Schweinfurt |
18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Sachs-Stadion Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Timo Gerach |
18 August 2025 | Dynamo Dresden | 0–1 | Mainz 05 | Dresden |
18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Florian Badstübner |
18 August 2025 | Rot-Weiss Essen | 0–1 | Borussia Dortmund | Essen |
20:45 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion an der Hafenstraße Attendance: 19,300 Referee: Frank Willenborg |
26 August 2025 | Eintracht Braunschweig | 4–4 (a.e.t.) (7–8 p) | VfB Stuttgart | Braunschweig |
20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Eintracht-Stadion Attendance: 20,865 Referee: Florian Exner | |
Penalties | ||||
27 August 2025 | Wehen Wiesbaden | 2–3 | Bayern Munich | Wiesbaden |
20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Brita-Arena Attendance: 12,500 Referee: Daniel Siebert |
Second round
The draw took place on 31 August 2025 with Felix Brych drawing the matches.[11][12] The matches take place on 28 and 29 October 2025.
28 October 2025 | Eintracht Frankfurt | v | Borussia Dortmund | Frankfurt |
18:30 | Report | Stadium: Deutsche Bank Park |
28 October 2025 | Hertha BSC | v | SV Elversberg | Berlin |
18:30 | Report | Stadium: Olympiastadion |
28 October 2025 | 1. FC Heidenheim | v | Hamburger SV | Heidenheim |
18:30 | Report | Stadium: Voith-Arena |
28 October 2025 | VfL Wolfsburg | v | Holstein Kiel | Wolfsburg |
18:30 | Report | Stadium: Volkswagen Arena |
28 October 2025 | Energie Cottbus | v | RB Leipzig | Cottbus |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: Stadion der Freundschaft |
28 October 2025 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | v | Karlsruher SC | Mönchengladbach |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: Borussia-Park |
28 October 2025 | FC Augsburg | v | VfL Bochum | Augsburg |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: WWK Arena |
28 October 2025 | FC St. Pauli | v | TSG Hoffenheim | Hamburg |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: Millerntor-Stadion |
29 October 2025 | FV Illertissen | v | 1. FC Magdeburg | Illertissen |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Vöhlinstadion |
29 October 2025 | Greuther Fürth | v | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Fürth |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer |
29 October 2025 | SC Paderborn | v | Bayer Leverkusen | Paderborn |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Home Deluxe Arena |
29 October 2025 | Mainz 05 | v | VfB Stuttgart | Mainz |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Mewa Arena |
29 October 2025 | 1. FC Köln | v | Bayern Munich | Cologne |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: RheinEnergieStadion |
29 October 2025 | Union Berlin | v | Arminia Bielefeld | Berlin |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: Stadion An der Alten Försterei |
29 October 2025 | SV Darmstadt | v | Schalke 04 | Darmstadt |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor |
29 October 2025 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | v | SC Freiburg | Düsseldorf |
20:45 | Report | Stadium: Merkur Spiel-Arena |
Round of 16
The matches take place on 2 and 3 December 2025.
Quarter-finals
The matches take place between 3 and 11 February 2026.
Semi-finals
The matches take place on 21 and 22 April 2026.
Final
The match takes place on 23 May 2026.
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Top goalscorers
The following are the top scorers of the DFB-Pokal, sorted first by number of goals, and then alphabetically if necessary. Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs are not included.
- As of 18 August 2025[13]
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Notes
- The three regions with the most participating teams in their league competitions (Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Westphalia) were allowed to enter two teams for the competition.
- In addition to the Bavarian Cup winners, the best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern also qualified.
- The Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths: one for 3. Liga and Regionalliga Nord teams, and the other for amateur teams. The winners of each path qualified.
- In addition to the Westphalian Cup winners, the best-placed Westphalian team of the Regionalliga West also qualified.[2]
- Sportfreunde Lotte qualified regardless of the outcome of the final of the Westphalian Cup, as Arminia Bielefeld, the other finalists, already qualified for the DFB-Pokal through their 3. Liga position.
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References
External links
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