The 2024–25 DFB-Pokal is the 82nd season of the annual German football cup competition. Sixty-four teams participate in the competition, including all teams from the previous year's Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. The competition began on 16 August 2024 with the first of six rounds and will end on 24 May 2025 with the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, a nominally neutral venue, which has hosted the final since 1985.[1] The DFB-Pokal is considered the second-most important club title in German football after the Bundesliga championship. The DFB-Pokal is run by the German Football Association (DFB).
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Venue(s) | Olympiastadion, Berlin |
| Dates | 16 August 2024 – 24 May 2025 |
| Teams | 64 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 48 |
| Goals scored | 169 (3.52 per match) |
| Attendance | 995,084 (20,731 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Four players (3 goals each) |
All statistics correct as of 30 October 2024.Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs not included. | |
Bayer Leverkusen are the defending champions.
The winner of the DFB-Pokal earns automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2025–26 edition of the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth, and the league's UEFA Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh. The winners will also host the 2025 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and will face the champions of the 2024–25 Bundesliga.
Participating clubs
editThe following teams qualified for the competition:
| Bundesliga the 18 clubs of the 2023–24 season |
2. Bundesliga the 18 clubs of the 2023–24 season |
3. Liga the top 4 clubs of the 2023–24 season |
| Representatives of the regional associations 24 representatives of 21 regional associations of the DFB, qualified (in general) through the 2023–24 Verbandspokal[note 1] | ||
|
Baden Bavaria[note 2]
Berlin Brandenburg Bremen Hamburg Hesse |
Lower Rhine Lower Saxony[note 4]
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Middle Rhine Rhineland Saarland Saxony |
Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein South Baden Southwest Thuringia Westphalia[note 6]
Württemberg |
Format
editParticipation
editThe DFB-Pokal began with a round of 64 teams. The 36 teams of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, along with the top four finishers of the 3. Liga automatically qualified for the tournament. Of the remaining slots, 21 were given to the cup winners of the regional football associations, the Verbandspokal. The three remaining slots were given to the three regional associations with the most men's teams, which were Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern was given the spot for Bavaria. For Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths: one for 3. Liga and Regionalliga Nord teams, and the other for amateur teams. The winners of each path qualified. For Westphalia, the spot rotated each season between the best-placed Westphalian team of the Regionalliga West and the best-placed amateur team of the Oberliga Westfalen. For the 2024–25 DFB-Pokal, this spot was awarded to a team from the Oberliga. As every team was entitled to participate in local tournaments which qualified for the association cups, every team could in principle compete in the DFB-Pokal. Reserve teams and combined football sections were not permitted to enter, along with no two teams of the same association or corporation.[3]
Draw
editThe draws for the different rounds are conducted as follows:[3]
For the first round, the participating teams were split into two pots of 32 teams each. The first pot contained all teams which qualified through their regional cup competitions, the best four teams of the 3. Liga, and the bottom four teams of the 2. Bundesliga. Every team from this pot was drawn to a team from the second pot, which contained all remaining professional teams (all the teams of the Bundesliga and the remaining fourteen 2. Bundesliga teams). The teams from the first pot were set as the home team in the process.
The two-pot scenario was also applied for the second round, with the remaining 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) in the first pot and the remaining Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga teams in the other pot. Once again, the 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) served as hosts. This time the pots did not have to be of equal size though, depending on the results of the first round. Theoretically, it was even possible that there could be only one pot, if all of the teams from one of the pots from the first round beat all the others in the second pot. Once one pot was empty, the remaining pairings were drawn from the other pot, with the first-drawn team for a match serving as hosts.
For the remaining rounds, the draw will be conducted from just one pot. Any remaining 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) will be the home team if drawn against a professional team. In every other case, the first-drawn team will serve as hosts.
Match rules
editTeams meet in one game per round. Matches take place for 90 minutes, with two halves of 45 minutes each. If still tied after regulation, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, consisting of two periods of 15 minutes each. If the score is still level after this, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. A coin toss will decide who takes the first penalty.[3][4] A maximum of nine players can be listed on the substitute bench, while a maximum of five substitutions are allowed. However, each team is only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.[5] From the round of 16 onward, a video assistant referee will be appointed for all DFB-Pokal matches. Though technically possible, VAR was not used for home matches of Bundesliga clubs prior to the round of 16 in order to provide a uniform approach to all matches.[6]
Suspensions
editIf a player receives five yellow cards in the competition, he will then be suspended from the next cup match. Similarly, receiving a second yellow card suspends a player from the next cup match. If a player receives a direct red card, they will be suspended a minimum of one match, but the German Football Association reserves the right to increase the suspension.[3]
International qualification
editThe winners of the DFB-Pokal earn automatic qualification for the league phase of next season's edition of the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth place, and the league's UEFA Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh place. The winners will also host the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and will face the champions of the previous year's Bundesliga, unless the same team wins the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, completing a double. In that case, the runners-up of the Bundesliga will take the spot and host instead.
Schedule
edit
All draws will generally be held on a Sunday evening after each round (unless noted otherwise).[7]
The rounds of the 2024–25 competition are scheduled as follows:[1]
| Round | Draw date | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| First round | 1 June 2024 | 16–19 August & 27–28 August 2024 |
| Second round | 1 September 2024 | 29–30 October 2024 |
| Round of 16 | 3 November 2024 | 3–4 December 2024 |
| Quarter-finals | 8 December 2024 | 4–5 February & 25–26 February 2025 |
| Semi-finals | 2 March 2025 | 1–2 April 2025 |
| Final | 24 May 2025 at Olympiastadion, Berlin |
Matches
editTimes up to 27 October 2024 and from 30 March 2025 are CEST (UTC+2). Times from 28 October 2024 to 29 March 2025 are CET (UTC+1).
First round
editThe draw took place on 23 June 2024, with Nils Petersen drawing the matches.[8][9] Thirty of the thirty-two matches took place from 16 to 19 August 2024. The remaining two matches, involving the participants of the 2024 DFL-Supercup (played on 17 August), took place on 27 and 28 August 2024.
| 16 August 2024 | Würzburger Kickers | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p) | TSG Hoffenheim | Würzburg |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Akon Arena Attendance: 9,511 Referee: Martin Petersen | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 16 August 2024 | Wehen Wiesbaden | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | Mainz 05 | Wiesbaden |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: BRITA-Arena Attendance: 12,500 Referee: Richard Hempel |
| 16 August 2024 | Hallescher FC | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | FC St. Pauli | Halle |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Leuna-Chemie-Stadion Attendance: 14,000 Referee: Daniel Siebert |
| 16 August 2024 | SSV Ulm | 0–4 | Bayern Munich | Ulm |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium: Donaustadion Attendance: 17,400 Referee: Sven Jablonski |
| 17 August 2024 | Schott Mainz | 0–2 | Greuther Fürth | Mainz |
| 13:00 | Report | Stadium: Bruchwegstadion Attendance: 4,235 Referee: Felix Prigan |
| 17 August 2024 | Erzgebirge Aue | 1–3 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Aue |
| 13:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Erzgebirgsstadion Attendance: 14,811 Referee: Florian Badstübner |
| 17 August 2024 | Greifswalder FC | 0–1 | Union Berlin | Greifswald |
| 15:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Volksstadion Greifswald Attendance: 4,990 Referee: Lukas Benen |
| 17 August 2024 | FC 08 Villingen | 0–4 | 1. FC Heidenheim | Villingen |
| 15:30 | Report | Stadium: MS-Technologie-Arena Attendance: 6,800 Referee: Fabienne Michel |
| 17 August 2024 | Rot-Weiss Essen | 1–4 | RB Leipzig | Essen |
| 15:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion an der Hafenstraße Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Christian Dingert |
| 17 August 2024 | FC Ingolstadt | 1–2 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Ingolstadt |
| 15:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Audi Sportpark Attendance: 11,655 Referee: Robin Braun |
| 17 August 2024 | VfR Aalen | 0–2 | Schalke 04 | Aalen |
| 15:30 | Report | Stadium: Städtisches Waldstadion Attendance: 10,850 Referee: Felix Brych |
| 17 August 2024 | VfL Osnabrück | 0–4 | SC Freiburg | Osnabrück |
| 15:30 | Report | Stadium: Stadion an der Bremer Brücke Attendance: 15,500 Referee: Tobias Reichel |
| 17 August 2024 | Alemannia Aachen | 2–3 | Holstein Kiel | Aachen |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Tivoli Attendance: 29,555 Referee: Michael Bacher |
| 17 August 2024 | Arminia Bielefeld | 2–0 | Hannover 96 | Bielefeld |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Schüco-Arena Attendance: 26,044 Referee: Robert Hartmann |
| 17 August 2024 | Phönix Lübeck | 1–4 | Borussia Dortmund | Hamburg |
| 18:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Volksparkstadion Attendance: 50,971 Referee: Max Burda |
| 18 August 2024 | Viktoria Berlin | 1–4 | FC Augsburg | Berlin |
| 13:00 | Liu  4' |
Report | Stadium: Stadion Lichterfelde Attendance: 5,504 Referee: Eric Weisbach |
| 18 August 2024 | 1. FC Saarbrücken | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p) | 1. FC Nürnberg | Saarbrücken |
| 13:00 | Brünker 80' |
Report | Ševčík 12' |
Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion Attendance: 14,868 Referee: Bastian Dankert |
| Penalties | ||||
| 18 August 2024 | Teutonia Ottensen | 1–3 | Darmstadt 98 | Hamburg |
| 15:30 | Stark 49' |
Report |
|
Stadium: Millerntor-Stadion Attendance: 6,487 Referee: Florian Lechner |
| 18 August 2024 | Jahn Regensburg | 1–0 | VfL Bochum | Regensburg |
| 15:30 | Ballas 70' |
Report | Stadium: Jahnstadion Regensburg Attendance: 12,581 Referee: Florian Heft |
| 18 August 2024 | Bremer SV | 0–4 | SC Paderborn | Bremen |
| 15:30 | Report | Stadium: Stadion am Panzenberg Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Martin Speckner |
| 18 August 2024 | VfV Hildesheim | 0–7 | SV Elversberg | Hildesheim |
| 15:30 | Report | Stadium: Friedrich-Ebert-Stadion Attendance: 5,186 Referee: Assad Nouhoum |
| 18 August 2024 | SV Sandhausen | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln | Sandhausen |
| 15:30 | Report | Stadium: GP Stadion am Hardtwald Attendance: 9,705 Referee: Benjamin Brand |
| 18 August 2024 | Hansa Rostock | 1–5 | Hertha BSC | Rostock |
| 15:30 | Berisha 46' |
Report |
|
Stadium: Ostseestadion Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Robert Schröder |
| 18 August 2024 | Dynamo Dresden | 2–0 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | Dresden |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion Attendance: 29,660 Referee: Sascha Stegemann |
| 18 August 2024 | Sportfreunde Lotte | 0–5 | Karlsruher SC | Lotte |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadion am Lotter Kreuz Attendance: 4,637 Referee: Konrad Oldhafer |
| 18 August 2024 | SV Meppen | 1–7 | Hamburger SV | Meppen |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Hänsch-Arena Attendance: 12,959 Referee: Felix Zwayer |
| 19 August 2024 | Energie Cottbus | 1–3 | Werder Bremen | Cottbus |
| 18:00 | Rorig 70' |
Report | Topp 32', 37', 55' |
Stadium: Stadion der Freundschaft Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Harm Osmers |
| 19 August 2024 | TuS Koblenz | 0–1 | VfL Wolfsburg | Koblenz |
| 18:00 | Report | Wimmer 15' |
Stadium: Stadion Oberwerth Attendance: 9,447 Referee: Sören Storks |
| 19 August 2024 | Kickers Offenbach | 2–1 | 1. FC Magdeburg | Offenbach |
| 18:00 | Report | Kaars 54' |
Stadium: Stadion am Bieberer Berg Attendance: 16,847 Referee: Patrick Alt |
| 19 August 2024 | Eintracht Braunschweig | 1–4 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Braunschweig |
| 20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Eintracht-Stadion Attendance: 21,201 Referee: Florian Exner |
| 27 August 2024 | Preußen Münster | 0–5 | VfB Stuttgart | Münster |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium: Preußenstadion Attendance: 12,672 Referee: Matthias Jöllenbeck |
| 28 August 2024 | Carl Zeiss Jena | 0–1 | Bayer Leverkusen | Jena |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Tobias Welz |
Second round
editThe draw took place on 1 September 2024, with Sonja Greinacher drawing the matches.[10][11] The matches took place on 29 and 30 October 2024.
| 29 October 2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3–0 | SV Elversberg | Leverkusen |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: BayArena Attendance: 29,787 Referee: Benjamin Brand |
| 29 October 2024 | Kickers Offenbach | 0–2 | Karlsruher SC | Offenbach |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion am Bieberer Berg Attendance: 20,071 Referee: Lars Erbst |
| 29 October 2024 | FC Augsburg | 3–0 | Schalke 04 | Augsburg |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: WWK Arena Attendance: 27,511 Referee: Frank Willenborg |
| 29 October 2024 | RB Leipzig | 4–2 | FC St. Pauli | Leipzig |
| 18:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Attendance: 40,478 Referee: Felix Zwayer |
| 29 October 2024 | VfB Stuttgart | 2–1 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Stuttgart |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium: MHPArena Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Daniel Schlager |
| 29 October 2024 | 1. FC Köln | 3–0 | Holstein Kiel | Cologne |
| 20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: RheinEnergieStadion Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Bastian Dankert |
| 29 October 2024 | VfL Wolfsburg | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Borussia Dortmund | Wolfsburg |
| 20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Volkswagen Arena Attendance: 24,806 Referee: Daniel Siebert |
| 29 October 2024 | Jahn Regensburg | 1–0 | Greuther Fürth | Regensburg |
| 20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Jahnstadion Regensburg Attendance: 11,627 Referee: Tom Bauer |
| 30 October 2024 | SC Freiburg | 2–1 | Hamburger SV | Freiburg |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Europa-Park Stadion Attendance: 34,500 Referee: Felix Brych |
| 30 October 2024 | Hertha BSC | 2–1 | 1. FC Heidenheim | Berlin |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Olympiastadion Attendance: 44,135 Referee: Robert Kampka |
| 30 October 2024 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 2–1 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Frankfurt |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Deutsche Bank Park Attendance: 58,000 Referee: Matthias Jöllenbeck |
| 30 October 2024 | SC Paderborn | 0–1 | Werder Bremen | Paderborn |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Home Deluxe Arena Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Max Burda |
| 30 October 2024 | Arminia Bielefeld | 2–0 | Union Berlin | Bielefeld |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium: Schüco-Arena Attendance: 26,117 Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger |
| 30 October 2024 | TSG Hoffenheim | 2–1 | 1. FC Nürnberg | Sinsheim |
| 20:45 | Report |
|
Stadium: PreZero Arena Attendance: 18,001 Referee: Timo Gerach |
| 30 October 2024 | Dynamo Dresden | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Darmstadt 98 | Dresden |
| 20:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion Attendance: 30,070 Referee: Tobias Stieler |
| 30 October 2024 | Mainz 05 | 0–4 | Bayern Munich | Mainz |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium: Mewa Arena Attendance: 33,305 Referee: Sascha Stegemann |
Round of 16
editThe draw took place on 3 November 2024, with André Schnura and Rudi Völler drawing the matches.[12][13] The matches will take place on 3 and 4 December 2024.
| 3 December 2024 | Arminia Bielefeld | v | SC Freiburg | Bielefeld |
| 18:00 | Stadium: Schüco-Arena |
| 3 December 2024 | Jahn Regensburg | v | VfB Stuttgart | Regensburg |
| 18:00 | Stadium: Jahnstadion Regensburg |
| 3 December 2024 | Bayern Munich | v | Bayer Leverkusen | Munich |
| 20:45 | Stadium: Allianz Arena |
| 3 December 2024 | Werder Bremen | v | Darmstadt 98 | Bremen |
| 20:45 | Stadium: Weserstadion |
| 4 December 2024 | 1. FC Köln | v | Hertha BSC | Cologne |
| 18:00 | Stadium: RheinEnergieStadion |
| 4 December 2024 | VfL Wolfsburg | v | TSG Hoffenheim | Wolfsburg |
| 18:00 | Stadium: Volkswagen Arena |
| 4 December 2024 | RB Leipzig | v | Eintracht Frankfurt | Leipzig |
| 20:45 | Stadium: Red Bull Arena |
| 4 December 2024 | Karlsruher SC | v | FC Augsburg | Karlsruhe |
| 20:45 | Stadium: Wildparkstadion |
Quarter-finals
editThe matches will take place between 4 and 26 February 2025.
Semi-finals
editThe matches will take place on 1 and 2 April 2025.
Final
editThe final take place on 24 May 2025.
Top goalscorers
edit- As of 30 October 2024[14]
The following are the top scorers of the DFB-Pokal, sorted first by number of goals, and then alphabetically if necessary. Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs are not included.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Maximilian Breunig
|
1. FC Heidenheim | 3 |
 Hugo Ekitike
|
Eintracht Frankfurt | ||
| Jamal Musiala
|
Bayern Munich | ||
| Keke Topp
|
Werder Bremen | ||
| 5 | 18 players | 2 | |
Notes
edit- ^ The three regions with the most participating teams in their league competitions (Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Westphalia) were allowed to enter two teams for the competition.
- ^ In addition to the Bavarian Cup winners, the best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern also qualifies.
- ^ FC Ingolstadt qualified regardless of the outcome of the final of the Bavarian Cup, as Würzburger Kickers, the other finalists, already qualified for the DFB-Pokal through their Regionalliga Bayern position.
- ^ The Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths: one for 3. Liga and Regionalliga Nord teams, and the other for amateur teams. The winners of each path qualify.
- ^ Erzgebirge Aue qualified regardless of the outcome of the final of the Saxony Cup, as Dynamo Dresden, the other finalists, already qualified for the DFB-Pokal through their 3. Liga position.
- ^ In addition to the Westphalian Cup winners, the best-placed amateur team of the Oberliga Westfalen also qualifies.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Rahmenterminkalender für Saison 2024/2025 beschlossen". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Oberliga Staffeltag: Entscheidungsspiel um den DFB-Pokal-Platz wird abgeschafft" [Oberliga season day: Decisive game for the DFB-Pokal place is abolished]. FLVW.de (in German). Westphalian Football and Athletics Association. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Modus" [Mode]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Spielordnung/Schiedsrichterordnung" [Match rules/referee rules] (PDF). DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 30 September 2022. sec. 46, par. 2.1.2 (p. 77). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Durchführungsbestimmungen zur DFB-Spielordnung und weitere Richtlinien" [Implementing regulations for the DFB match regulations and other guidelines] (PDF). DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 1 February 2023. par. 30–31 (pp. 26–27). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Pokal ab Achtelfinale mit Video-Assistent" [Pokal from round of 16 with VAR]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Kehl lost erste Runde in der ARD aus" [Kehl draws the first round on ARD]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ "Nils Petersen lost erste Pokalrunde aus". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Carl Zeiss Jena empfängt Leverkusen, FC Bayern zu Gast bei Ulm". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Olympiasiegerin Greinacher lost zweite Runde aus". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Vier Bundesligaduelle in der 2. Pokalrunde". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Rudi Völler Ziehungsleiter für Achtelfinalauslosung im DFB-Pokal". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "DFB-Pokal: FC Bayern im Achtelfinale gegen Leverkusen". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "DFB-Pokal – Torjäger 2024/25" [DFB-Pokal: Goalscorers 2024–25]. kicker.de (in German). kicker-sportmagazin. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
External links
edit- Official website (in German)
- DFB-Pokal on kicker.de (in German)