German Football League Expands to 20 Teams?
The German Football League (DFL) has confirmed that it has no plans to expand the Bundesliga to 20 teams, contrary to speculations in other top European football leagues. CEO Steffen Merkel stated during a press conference that the current structure of 18 teams will remain.
Since its inception in 1965, the Bundesliga has been played with 18 teams, with the exception of the first two seasons, which featured 16 clubs each. The league has maintained one of the more streamlined schedules in Europe, avoiding the fixture congestion that larger leagues may face.
Merkel cited two reasons for not expanding the Bundesliga: its close link to rights cycles with TV partners and the calendar getting fuller. He also noted that there are "tendencies" that leagues with 20 clubs are considering a reduction to 18 teams.
On the other hand, leagues such as England’s Premier League and Spain’s La Liga have publicly debated or considered reducing their top divisions from 20 to 18 teams. The main reasons cited for such a move include reducing fixture congestion, improving quality and competitiveness, and enhancing broadcast and commercial interests.
The DFL recently awarded the rights for four seasons up to and including summer 2029, indicating a stable commercial success for the league. Meanwhile, the Ligue 1 in France will be reduced from 20 to 18 teams for the 2023/24 season due to the tense economic situation of French professional football.
While the German Football League (GFL)—the top American football league in Germany—recently voted to reduce its league from 16 to 12 teams by 2028, this move is not directly related to the Bundesliga (association football). However, it does highlight a broader trend in German sports towards tighter, higher-quality leagues.
In conclusion, the Bundesliga is not part of the conversation regarding a reduction from 20 to 18 teams. It is unlikely that the league will change its structure, and the current debate is more about other leagues potentially emulating the Bundesliga’s format, not the reverse.
| League | Current # of Teams | Discussed Reduction? | Likelihood of Change | |-------------------------|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------| | Premier League (England)| 20 | Yes | Possible (discussed) | | La Liga (Spain) | 20 | Yes | Possible (discussed) | | Bundesliga (Germany) | 18 | No | Unlikely (unchanged) | | Serie A (Italy) | 20 | No (recently reduced)| Stable | | Ligue 1 (France) | 18 | No | Stable |
The Bundesliga, with its current structure of 18 teams, remains unchanged, contrary to rumors in other top European football leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga that are considering reducing their top divisions from 20 to 18 teams. Moreover, discussions about potential reductions in leagues like England's Premier League and Spain's La Liga might be influenced by the streamlined schedule and successful commercial aspects of the Bundesliga.
