The German Football Association prepares to launch another DFB Pokal campaign as the first round draw takes place on Saturday, marking the beginning of the path to Berlin's Olympiastadion.
The 2025/26 season concluded with Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich securing their 21st DFB Pokal title, defeating VfB StuttgartTeam·VfB Stuttgart 3-0 in the final to complete a domestic double. The Bavarian giants' triumph demonstrated the enduring appeal of Germany's premier knockout competition, where lower-league sides regularly test the country's elite clubs.
Saturday's draw will determine the opening fixtures for 64 teams across Germany's football pyramid. The traditional format divides participants into two pots of 32, with amateur and lower-division clubs designated as home teams against their professional opponents. This structure creates the possibility for giant-killing scenarios that define cup football's unique character.
The tournament's opening round typically produces compelling narratives, from established BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga clubs navigating tricky away trips to regional grounds, to ambitious lower-league sides seeking statement victories. Last season's early rounds featured notable encounters including Werder BremenTeam·Werder Bremen facing Arminia BielefeldTeam·Arminia Bielefeld and Union BerlinTeam·Union Berlin visiting FC GüterslohTeam·FC Gütersloh.
The competition's winner earns automatic qualification for the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League, though Bayern's Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League participation meant the European spot transferred to the sixth-placed BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga finisher. Bayer LeverkusenTeam·Bayer Leverkusen benefited from this redistribution after reaching the semi-finals before falling to the eventual champions.
The draw ceremony represents the formal start of a tournament that has consistently delivered drama across its 83-year history. Regional cup winners and third-tier clubs will discover their professional opponents, while BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga sides learn which communities they will visit in pursuit of silverware.
Saturday's proceedings will establish the foundation for another edition of German football's most democratic competition, where tactical preparation meets local passion and established hierarchies face their sternest tests.
Joshua Kimmich celebrates with the DFB Pokal trophy after Bayern Munich's 2026 final win. Pressefoto Baumann/IMAGO
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