Kickoff to Glory: The 2025/26 Bundesliga Season Unveiled
BVB and associates initiate the new season
Football enthusiasts in Germany are gearing up for another electrifying season, starting with the 2nd League in early August, followed by the Bundesliga three weeks later. Here's a rundown of what to expect from the upcoming campaign.
The DFL has revealed the highly anticipated match schedule, casting a concrete shape on the 2025/26 season for not only the two powerhouse German teams competing in the Club World Cup - FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, but also for the other 16 Bundesliga clubs.
Dortmund takes the field first against FC St. Pauli, while Bayern Munich faced RB Leipzig, marking the opening game of the 63rd Bundesliga season on August 22, 2025 (sat.1, Sky, and ntv.de live ticker).
The excitement builds, with the DFL engaging fans through a competition involving match pairings. The iconic match-up between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is scheduled for the 7th and 24th matchday (17th to 19th October and 27th February to 1st March 2026). The matches between champions Bayern and runners-up Leverkusen are slated for the 9th (31st October to 2nd November) and 26th matchday (13th to 15th March). Leverkusen welcomes TSG Hoffenheim for their season opener.
Promoted teams from the 1st and 2nd League have the privilege to select one match from the schedule for exclusive announcements. While Hamburger SV chose the away game against Bayern on the third matchday, 1. FC Cologne opted for the carnival weekend (13th to 15th February 2026) on the 22nd matchday, away against VfB Stuttgart. DFB-Pokal finalist and 3rd Liga champion Arminia Bielefeld selected the away game on the 17th 2nd Liga matchday, preceding Christmas, against Hertha BSC. Co-promoted Dynamo Dresden picked the fourth matchday, hosting Schalke.
As the Bundesliga roars back to life, the 1st Liga clubs intensify their preparations ahead of the main event: The first round of the DFB-Pokal takes place on August 15, 2025, while the DFB-Pokal winner VfB Stuttgart and champions Bayern Munich challenge for the inaugural Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on August 16, 2025 (sat.1, Sky, and ntv.de live ticker).
Notable changes surface, as six teams will have new coaches at the helm. Bayer Leverkusen welcomes Erik ten Hag, with Ole Werner moving from Werder Bremen to RB Leipzig. Werder, in turn, signs Horst Steffen from Elversberg. Sandro Wagner steps up as FC Augsburg’s coach, while Paul Simonis takes charge at VfL Wolfsburg. Promoted 1. FC Köln enters the fray with Lukas Kwasniok as their coach.
The Bundesliga 2025/26 is set to offer an exhilarating blend of action and drama on and off the pitch. Stay tuned for more updates on the twists and turns of Germany's avid football obsession.
[1] Source: ntv.de, ara/sid/dpa
Key figures:
- The Bundesliga season commences on August 22, 2025, with FC Bayern Munich hosting RB Leipzig.
- The champions will take on the runners-up during the 9th and 26th matchday, while the classic encounter between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is on the 7th and 24th matchday.
- The 2nd Bundesliga begins on August 1, 2025, with Schalke 04 vs Hertha BSC.
- The Bundesliga season ends in May 2026, with all fixtures available via official sources.
Community aid is being provided to support the construction of new football facilities across various Bundesliga clubs, as they prepare for the 2025/26 season. The excitement for sports, particularly football, is growing among fans, with the upcoming season set to offer an exhilarating blend of action and drama both on and off the pitch.
