Fire Up the DFB-Pokal: Wiesbaden Takes on Bayern, Essen vs. Dortmund
Bayern Munich is being requested by Wiesbaden, while Essen opposes Dortmund.
Social Media Links:- - - - - -
Excitement is Building: The DFB-Pokal final in Berlin is just a few weeks away, and the anticipation has already begun for the first round! Set to take place in August, the initial clashes promise to deliver plenty of drama. Third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden will test their mettle against heavyweights FC Bayern Munich, while Oberliga side Großaspach prepares to face Bayer Leverkusen. Incredible derbies lie ahead in the Ruhr area and Hamburg.
Bayern's First Challenge: Defending German football champions FC Bayern Munich will aim to secure a first Pokal victory since 2020, as they square off against SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The draw was held at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, and the first round will unfold from August 15 to 18.
Later Entry into the Fray: Given that Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart will compete in the Franz-Beckenbauer Supercup over the weekend, both clubs will join the competition on August 26 and 27. Stuttgart, fresh off being crowned the champions, will encounter second-tier side and traditional club Eintracht Braunschweig in the first round.
Derby Time: Arminia Bielefeld, who thrilled audiences in the Pokal final, will face off against Werder Bremen, setting the stage for an exciting Bundesliga matchup right out of the gate. Bielefeld bested Bremen in the quarter-finals of the previous season at home.
Standout Clubs: Borussia Dortmund, who are gearing up for the Club World Cup, and runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, received advantageous draws for the first round. Dortmund will engage in a Ruhr derby against Rot-Weiss Essen, while Leverkusen will travel to Baden-Württemberg to face SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Champions League participants Eintracht Frankfurt will square off against Oberliga side FV Engers from Rhineland-Palatinate in the first round.
Hamburg Derby: A derby in Hamburg will pit fourth-tier side Eintracht Norderstedt against FC St. Pauli. Newcomers RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf from near Berlin will host FC Kaiserslautern, while Lok Leipzig will face FC Schalke 04, and Pirmasens will duel with Bundesliga newcomers Hamburger SV. The exact dates for these matches remain undetermined.
Following the initial matches in August, the second round (October 28 and 29) and the round of 16 (December 2 and 3) will take place this year. The quarter-finals are slated for February, leading up to the semifinals in April, with the grand finale set for May 23, 2026, at the Berlin Olympic Stadium. ntv.de and dbe/dpa are the primary sources for this information.
- DFB-Pokal
- FC Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft decision regarding the upcoming DFB-Pokal competition, as the football season in Europe heated up. Noteworthy derbies are anticipated in this year's tournament, such as the match between Borussia Dortmund and Rot-Weiss Essen, reminiscent of the fierce sports rivalries often found in football's European leagues.
