The 2026-27 DFB Pokal is Germany’s premier domestic knockout cup competition, bringing together 64 clubs from across the country’s football pyramid. The competition began with the first round on August 21, 2026, with Bundesliga giants, second-tier clubs and lower-league sides competing for a place in the next stage. The DFB Pokal is known as the German knockout football cup competition.
The first round runs through September 2, 2026, with 30 matches played between August 21 and 24 before Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich enter the competition on September 1 and 2 respectively. The tournament will continue through the knockout rounds before the 2026-27 DFB Pokal final on May 29, 2027, at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Known for giant-killing upsets and memorable cup runs, the DFB-Pokal gives clubs from Germany’s lower divisions the opportunity to face some of the country’s biggest teams.
This guide covers the 2026-27 DFB Pokal teams, schedule, results, format, key dates, prize money and the road to the final.
Tournament Format and Qualification
The beauty of the DFB-Pokal lies in its inclusive format, pitting amateur sides against seasoned European contenders in single-elimination matches.
The 2026-27 tournament features a total of 64 participating teams. The qualification breakdown is strictly organized to ensure a mix of elite and regional talent:
- Bundesliga: All 18 clubs from the top flight of German football automatically qualify.
- 2. Bundesliga: All 18 teams from Germany’s second division secure automatic entry.
- 3. Liga: The top four finishing clubs from the previous 3. Liga season are guaranteed spots.
- Regional Cup Winners: The remaining 24 spots are awarded to the winners of the various regional cup competitions across Germany’s regional football associations.
In the first round, the 32 teams from the lower divisions are drawn against the 32 teams from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. To give the underdogs an advantage and maximize local fan engagement, the lower-division teams are always granted home advantage.
Matches are decided in a single leg; if the game is tied after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.
2026-27 DFB Pokal Full Schedule and Key Dates
The schedule for the 2026-27 DFB Pokal runs from late summer to the grand finale in spring. Mark your calendars for these important fixture dates:
- First Round: August 21 – August 24, 2026, and September 1 – September 2, 2026.
- Second Round: October 27 – October 28, 2026.
- Round of 16 (Achtelfinale): December 1 – December 2, 2026.
- Quarter-finals (Viertelfinale): February 2 – February 3, 2027, and February 9 – February 10, 2027.
- Semi-finals (Halbfinale): April 20 – April 21, 2027.
- Final: May 29, 2027.
As is tradition since 1985, the Final will be hosted at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin.
First Round Highlights and Results
The first round of the 2026-27 DFB Pokal kicked off on August 21, 2026, and immediately showcased the high-scoring drama the tournament is famous for.
Some of the most notable results from the opening weekend include:
- Eintracht Frankfurt’s Dominance: Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt showed no mercy against fifth-tier SC St. Tönis, securing a massive 11–0 victory away from home.
- VfB Stuttgart’s Clean Sheet: VfB Stuttgart comfortably dispatched Hansa Rostock with a 4–0 win at the Ostseestadion.
- Bayer Leverkusen Progresses: Bayer 04 Leverkusen secured their spot in the next round with a 4–0 victory over SV Wehen Wiesbaden.
- Mainz Runs Riot: 1. FSV Mainz 05 delivered a dominant performance, defeating VfB Krieschow 9–0.
- Penalty Shootout Drama: The magic of the cup was on full display as Viktoria Köln pushed 1. FC Nürnberg to the limit, ending in a 1-1 draw after extra time before Nürnberg narrowly escaped with a 5-4 win on penalties. Similarly, VfL Wolfsburg survived a massive scare against VSG Altglienicke, winning 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
- Major Upsets: The first round featured surprising outcomes, with Arminia Bielefeld eliminating SG Sonnenhof Großaspach in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Additionally, FC St. Pauli faced an unexpected loss, falling 2-0 to Rot-Weiss Essen.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 2026 | Preußen Münster vs Karlsruher SC | 1–2 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | Waldhof Mannheim vs 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 0–1 (a.e.t.) |
| 21 Aug 2026 | SC St. Tönis vs Eintracht Frankfurt | 0–11 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | Hansa Rostock vs VfB Stuttgart | 0–4 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Energie Cottbus vs FC Augsburg | 0–2 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Wehen Wiesbaden vs Bayer Leverkusen | 0–4 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Erzgebirge Aue vs TSG Hoffenheim | 0–4 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Viktoria Köln vs 1. FC Nürnberg | 1–1 (Nürnberg won 5–4 on penalties) |
| 22 Aug 2026 | 1. FC Saarbrücken vs Hertha BSC | 1–1 (Hertha won 4–2 on penalties) |
| 22 Aug 2026 | MSV Duisburg vs SV Elversberg | 1–3 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Lüneburger SK Hansa vs Werder Bremen | 0–3 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | SV Hemelingen vs Hannover 96 | 1–9 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Sonnenhof Großaspach vs Arminia Bielefeld | 2–2 (Sonnenhof won 5–3 on penalties) |
| 22 Aug 2026 | 1860 Munich vs Holstein Kiel | 0–2 |
| 22 Aug 2026 | Eintracht Trier vs RB Leipzig | 0–6 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | SSV Jeddeloh vs 1. FC Heidenheim | 5–2 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Greuther Fürth vs VfL Bochum | 1–2 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Westfalia Rhynern vs Dynamo Dresden | 0–6 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Schott Mainz vs Borussia Mönchengladbach | 0–5 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Eintracht Braunschweig vs Union Berlin | 2–4 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Bahlinger SC vs 1. FC Magdeburg | 0–4 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | VfB Krieschow vs Mainz 05 | 0–9 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Carl Zeiss Jena vs Darmstadt 98 | 1–2 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Fortuna Düsseldorf vs SC Freiburg | 1–5 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Phönix Lübeck vs SC Paderborn | 2–4 |
| 23 Aug 2026 | Rot-Weiss Essen vs FC St. Pauli | 2–0 |
| 24 Aug 2026 | VSG Altglienicke vs VfL Wolfsburg | 3–3 (VSG won 5–3 on penalties) |
| 24 Aug 2026 | SC Verl vs Hamburger SV | 0–3 |
| 24 Aug 2026 | Würzburger Kickers vs 1. FC Köln | 1–2 |
| 24 Aug 2026 | Hallescher FC vs Schalke 04 | 2–5 |
| 1 Sep 2026 | Hamburger-Eimsbütteler BC vs Borussia Dortmund | 0–5 |
| 2 Sep 2026 | VfL Osnabrück vs Bayern Munich | — |
Second Round
Here are the teams that qualified for the Second Round of the 2026-27 DFB Pokal.
| Qualified Team | Qualified Team |
|---|---|
| FC Augsburg | Hertha BSC |
| Union Berlin | VfL Bochum |
| Werder Bremen | Darmstadt 98 |
| Dynamo Dresden | SV Elversberg |
| Rot-Weiss Essen | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| SC Freiburg | Sonnenhof Großaspach |
| Hamburger SV | Hannover 96 |
| TSG Hoffenheim | SSV Jeddeloh |
| 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Karlsruher SC |
| Holstein Kiel | 1. FC Köln |
| RB Leipzig | Bayer Leverkusen |
| 1. FC Magdeburg | Mainz 05 |
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | 1. FC Nürnberg |
| SC Paderborn | Schalke 04 |
| Borussia Dortmund | VfL Wolfsburg |
Top Contenders for the 2026-27 DFB Pokal Trophy
Whenever the DFB-Pokal begins, a few historic giants are immediately established as the favorites to reach Berlin:
FC Bayern Munich
The undisputed kings of German football hold the record for the most DFB-Pokal titles in history. With unparalleled squad depth and top-tier tactical management, Bayern Munich enters every domestic competition as the team to beat. Their opening clash against Osnabrück will set the tone for their latest cup campaign.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Having recently transformed into one of the most formidable and dynamic attacking teams in Europe, Bayer Leverkusen brings high intensity to the knockout stages. Their 4-0 opening round win shows they are strictly focused on securing domestic silverware.
Borussia Dortmund
Known for their blistering counter-attacks and massive traveling support, Dortmund always represents a major threat in cup competitions. If they can maintain defensive stability, the famous “Yellow Wall” could very well be celebrating in Berlin come May.
Eintracht Frankfurt & RB Leipzig
Eintracht Frankfurt has a proud recent history in cup competitions, proven by their emphatic 11-0 opening-round statement. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig has firmly established itself as a modern cup specialist, comfortably winning their first-round match against Eintracht Trier 6-0. Both clubs possess the quality to navigate through tough winter fixtures and make a deep run to the semi-finals.
The Road to the Olympiastadion
The allure of the DFB-Pokal is not just about the elite clubs; it’s about the journey. For amateur players, stepping onto the pitch against global superstars is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For the fans, it is a chance to see local stadiums packed to the rafters, witnessing historic upsets that will be talked about for generations.
As the 2026-27 DFB Pokal tournament progresses through the autumn and into the harsh winter months, squad rotation, injuries, and weather conditions will level the playing field, setting the stage for unpredictable and thrilling football.
Will Bayern Munich add another trophy to their legendary cabinet, or will a dark horse emerge to shock the German football landscape? With the path to Berlin officially underway, fans around the world are ready for another unforgettable season of the DFB-Pokal.
