The DFB-Pokal is Germany's historic cup competition, crowning a champion through 84 years of tradition.

History · Published 5 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2026–27 DFB-Pokal represents the 84th season of Germany's premier knockout football tournament. Featuring 64 teams ranging from professional giants to regional underdogs, the competition offers a unique path to European qualification and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. It remains the second-most prestigious club title in German football after the Bundesliga.

The DFB-Pokal, managed by the German Football Association, operates on a rigorous knockout format. The 64-team field is composed of all clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, the top four finishers from the 3. Liga, and 21 winners from regional associations. Three additional spots are allocated to Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Westphalia, the associations with the highest number of men's teams. This structure ensures that, in principle, any team can compete, provided they are not a reserve side or a combined section.

The tournament's draw mechanics are designed to favor amateur and lower-league clubs in the early stages. For the first two rounds, teams are split into two pots, with professional clubs drawn against smaller teams, which are granted home-field advantage. From the round of 16 onward, a single-pot draw is used, though lower-league teams still retain home-field priority. Matches are decided by 90 minutes of regulation, followed by extra time and penalty shoot-outs if necessary. Notably, the video assistant referee (VAR) is introduced starting from the round of 16 to ensure officiating consistency.

Success in the DFB-Pokal carries significant rewards. The winner secures automatic entry into the UEFA Europa League group stage for the following season. Furthermore, the champion hosts the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against the Bundesliga titleholder. If a club achieves a domestic double by winning both the league and the cup, the Bundesliga runner-up takes the Supercup spot. The competition concludes annually at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, a venue that has hosted the final since 1985, cementing its status as a cornerstone of the German sporting calendar.

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