Expanded monetary rewards for the DFB Cup: Cup prizes incrementally escalate to 75 million euros
The German Football Association (DFB) has announced the prize money structure and dates for the 2025/26 DFB-Pokal, which will also apply to the 2026 edition of the competition. The total prize money for the tournament has been increased to €75 million, an increase of €800,000 compared to last year.
In the first round, each of the 64 participating clubs will receive €211,886. As the tournament progresses, the prize money doubles with each round. The second round winners will receive approximately €423,772, the Round of 16 winners €847,544, the Quarterfinals winners €1,695,088, and the Semifinals winners an impressive €3,390,175 each.
The finalists will receive significant amounts as well. The losing finalist will receive €2.88 million, while the winner will take home €4.32 million. This means that a team that wins the competition from the first round could potentially earn approximately €10,888,465.
The DFB-Pokal matches have been scheduled for specific dates. The second round will take place on October 28 and 29, the round of 16 on December 2 and 3, the quarter-finals on February 3, 4, 10, and 11, and the semi-finals on April 21 and 22, 2026. The final of the cup will take place on May 23, 2026, at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
The semi-finals will be played on April 21 and 22, 2026. Until the semi-finals, the prize money will be doubled for each round in the cup. The prize money for the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals are €847,544, €1.7 million, and €3.39 million respectively.
The German Football Association has confirmed that the prize money structure follows a pattern of doubling for each round, with the exact amounts for each round beyond the first and final not explicitly listed but following this pattern.
This increase in prize money is a testament to the DFB's commitment to rewarding success in the DFB-Pokal and providing a competitive and exciting tournament for all participating clubs.
In the DFB-Pokal tournament, the round of 16 winners will receive approximately €847,544, doubling the prize money compared to the first round. As the competition progresses towards the semi-finals, the prize money continues to double, reaching €3.39 million for the winning teams in this round.
