Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga Champs Get Green Light for 2025/26 Season
Licenses granted to all 36 applicants by DFL - Grants issued to all 36 applicants by DFL
Gear up, footie fans! 36 clubs have secured their spots in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga for the 2025/26 season, as the German Football League (DFL) has awarded playing licenses to all qualifying applicants. The DFL's licensing committee spilled the beans on their decision in the early morning. According to the announcement, the clubs must prove their financial fitness for the forthcoming season, which begins in the fall.
For a level playing field, the league scrutinizes financial, athletic, and legal aspects, along with "criteria pertaining to stadiums, sustainability, and the Virtual Bundesliga." Back in April, the DFL indicated that certain clubs would need to vin-trush up their act and meet deadlines by mid-June to secure the right to play.
One club under the microscope was Berlin's 2. Bundesliga entrant, Hertha BSC. In the past, they've faced a handful of conditions with regards to their financial performance. As they announced back then, "We've received a condition in the economic sector, plus a batch of conditions. As per initial licensing decisions, we need to tick off the condition by June 4. We've got this covered, and we'll nail the deadline."
Hannover 96 addressed a sudden issue with their managing director role just in the nick of time before the licensing deadline. Marcus Mann, formerly the sporting director, was promoted to sporting managing director, while marketing specialist Henning Bindzus hopped on board as the new managing director in the commercial sector. Both previously worked for Hamburger SV, and took up their new duties mere hours before the March 17 deadline, so the club could submit their application to the DFL on time.
- German Football League (DFL)
- Bundesliga
- License
- Berlin, Hannover
Behind the Scenes 🔍
The licensing process for Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga teams involves thorough examination and assessment of several aspects.
- Financial Sturdiness: Clubs must demonstrate reasonable financial standing and compliance with financial fair play guidelines.
- Infrastructure: Teams need to ensure their stadiums are decked out with safety and capacity features according to the DFL's specifications.
- Youth Development: Clubs must maintain a solid youth development program that includes specific numbers of home-grown players within squads. Since the 2006-07 season, squads must include at least 8 players that climbed the ranks within a German club, with 4 of these players hailing from the club's very own youth development system[4].
- Bundesliga Specifics: Clubs undergo a licensing procedure that weighs their financial, legal, and organizational stability.
- 2. Bundesliga Criteria: The top 2 teams in the 2. Bundesliga rise to the Bundesliga, with the third-place team battling the third-from-bottom Bundesliga team in a playoff to clinch the final spot[5]. Bottom feeders in the 2. Bundesliga go down to the 3. Liga, with the 16th-place team also participating in a playoff against the 3. Liga's third-place team to stay in the league[5].
The fierce competition in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga will come into play once more as the season unfolds!
- As the 2025/26 Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga seasons approach, the clubs will need to prove their financial fitness, as the German Football League (DFL) is assessing various elements, including financial sturdiness, infrastructure, youth development, Bundesliga-specific criteria, and 2. Bundesliga criteria.
- In order to maintain their spots, clubs will also need to focus on sports like football, ensuring they have the necessary personnel and resources to compete in the European leagues, considering that clubs undergoing licensing evaluations are scrutinized in terms of financial, legal, and organizational stability, as well as stadium safety and capacity, youth development programs, and sustainability efforts.
