The 2025‑26 DFB‑Pokal is down to its last four with the 2026 DFB‑Pokal Semi-finals scheduled for 21–22 April 2026. Two teams are already booked for the last four – Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart – with two more semi‑final spots to be decided after the remaining quarter‑finals.
The winners of the 2026 DFB Pokal Semi-finals will meet in the final at Olympiastadion, Berlin, on 23 May 2026.
This is the 83rd edition of Germany’s premier cup competition, with the champion earning a direct place in the 2026‑27 UEFA Europa League league phase.
- Draw: 15 February 2026
- Dates: 21 & 22 April 2026
- Format: Single‑leg, extra time + penalties if required
- Confirmed teams: Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart
- Potential other semi‑finalists: Winners of Hertha BSC vs SC Freiburg, Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig
- Final: 23 May 2026, Olympiastadion Berlin
You can now plug this structure into your site, and once the remaining quarter‑finals and the semi‑final draw are done, just update the exact pairings and kick‑off times.
2026 DFB Pokal Semi-finals Teams
The quarter‑finals are split across two weeks in February. Two ties have already been played, producing the first confirmed semi‑finalists:
Confirmed semi-finalists
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Quarter‑final: 3–0 vs FC St. Pauli at BayArena, Leverkusen
- VfB Stuttgart (defending cup holders)
- Quarter‑final: 3–0 vs Holstein Kiel at Holstein‑Stadion, Kiel
- Hertha BSC vs SC Freiburg
- Quarter‑final: Freiburg progressed after a penalty shootout victory against Hertha Berlin
- Bayern Munich
- Quarter‑final: Bayern overcame RB Leipzig 2-0.
Semi-Final Fixtures & Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 22 April 2026 | Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich | BayArena, Leverkusen |
| Thursday, 23 April 2026 | VfB Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg | MHP Arena, Stuttgart |
2026 DFB Pokal Semi-finals Draw: Date & How It Works
- Draw date: 15 February 2026
- Location: Typically held at the DFB headquarters or during a live TV show in Germany.
- Teams in the draw:
- Bayer Leverkusen
- VfB Stuttgart
- Winner of Hertha BSC vs SC Freiburg
- Winner of Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig
| Round | Draw date | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter-finals | 7 December 2025 | 3–4 February & 10–11 February 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 15 February 2026 | 21–22 April 2026 |
| Final | 23 May 2026 at Olympiastadion, Berlin |
Format of the draw
- No seeding: all four teams go into a single pot.
- The first team drawn in each pairing is the home side in a one‑off semi‑final.
- Two ties are drawn, deciding both match‑ups and which clubs host.
This means Leverkusen and Stuttgart could face each other, or each could be drawn against one of Bayern, Leipzig, Hertha BSC or Freiburg, depending on quarter‑final results.
2026 DFB Pokal Semi-finals Schedule & Venues
The DFB and DFL framework calendar confirms that the semi‑finals will be played on 21 and 22 April 2026.
The German FA (DFB) has finalised the kick-off times for both matches, both of which will start at 20:45 CEST
Key dates
- Semi‑finals:
- Wednesday, 22 April 2026 – Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich
- Thursday, 23 April 2026 – VfB Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg
- Final:
- 23 May 2026 – Olympiastadion, Berlin
Venues
- Each semi‑final is hosted by one of the clubs drawn first in that tie, at their usual home stadium (e.g. BayArena, Mercedes‑Benz Arena, Allianz Arena, Olympiastadion, or Europa‑Park Stadion), depending on who qualifies and how the draw falls.
Exact kick‑off times will be confirmed nearer the date, but recent rounds have used the prime‑time slot of 20:45 CET for DFB‑Pokal ties.
Match Format & Rules
The DFB‑Pokal remains a straight knockout competition with single‑leg ties in every round, including the semi‑finals:
- 90 minutes of regular time.
- If level after 90 minutes:
- Extra time (two 15-minute periods).
- If still level, a penalty shoot‑out decides the winner.
- There is no away‑goals rule at any stage of the DFB‑Pokal.
This makes the semi‑finals true one‑night knockout occasions – no second leg to rescue a bad result.
Road to the Final in Berlin
The winners of the two semi‑finals will contest the 2026 DFB‑Pokal Final at:
- Stadium: Olympiastadion, Berlin
- Date: Saturday, 23 May 2026
- Kick‑off: evening local time (to be confirmed)
The Olympiastadion has hosted every DFB‑Pokal final since 1985 and is considered one of European football’s iconic venues.
What’s at Stake?
Beyond the prestige of lifting Germany’s main domestic cup, the 2025‑26 winner earns:
- Automatic qualification to the 2026‑27 UEFA Europa League league phase.
- A spot in the 2026 German Supercup, facing the Bundesliga champions (or league runners‑up if the same club wins the double).
If the DFB‑Pokal winner has already qualified for Europe via the Bundesliga, the European place is passed down in the league table as per DFB‑Pokal regulations.
Key Storylines to Watch in 2026 DFB Pokal Semi-finals
You can build your article or preview around these angles:
- Bayer Leverkusen is chasing more silverware
Recent Bundesliga and European success has turned Leverkusen into a trophy machine. Another semi‑final berth adds to their growing domestic dominance. - VfB Stuttgart is defending their crown
Stuttgart are the reigning DFB‑Pokal holders, aiming for back‑to‑back cup wins – something rarely done in German football. - Heavyweights still in the mix
If Bayern Munich or RB Leipzig progress from their quarter‑final, the semi‑final line‑up will feature multiple recent German champions. SC Freiburg are a strong cup side too, and Hertha BSC dream of a Berlin final in their own stadium. - European qualification pressure
For clubs outside the very top of the Bundesliga, winning the DFB‑Pokal is the most realistic path into the Europa League, adding extra intensity to the semi‑finals.
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 5 |
| 2 | Christoph Baumgartner | RB Leipzig | 4 |
| Leopold Querfeld | Union Berlin | ||
| 4 | Dženan Pejčinović | VfL Wolfsburg | 3 |
| Fabian Schleusener | Karlsruher SC |
Where to Watch 2026 DFB Pokal Semi-finals
| Region | Broadcaster / Streaming Platform |
|---|---|
| Germany | Sky Deutschland (All matches), ARD and ZDF (Selected free-to-air matches, including semi-finals) |
| United States | ESPN+ and the ESPN App (Exclusive rights through 2026) |
| Asia | WAVES OTT (Exclusive streaming for semi-finals and final), FanCode (General coverage) |
| United Kingdom | Premier Sports |
