Founded in 1935, the DFB-Pokal is Germany's national cup competition and actually predates the Bundesliga by 28 years.
Initially known as the Tschammerpokal, the competition was re-instated as the DFB-Pokal in 1952, existing in its current guise ever since.
Here is everything you need to know about German football's second most prestigious trophy.
Dates
The 2026/207 DFB Pokal is set to begin on 21st August 2026, with the final scheduled to take place on 29th May 2027 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
- First round: 21st August – 2nd September 2026
- Second round: 27th – 28th October 2026
- Round of 16: 1st – 2nd December 2026
- Quarter-finals: 2nd –10th February 2027
- Semi-finals: 20th – 21st April 2027
- Final: 29th May 2027
Format
In total, 64 teams enter the DFB-Pokal. These are made up of the 18 teams from the Bundesliga, 18 teams from the 2. Bundesliga and the top four clubs from the previous season of the 3. Liga.
The rest of the numbers are made up by the 24 representatives of the regional associations of the DFB, most of whom qualify through the previous season's Verbandspokal.
All 64 teams enter the DFB-Pokal in the first round, but are split into two pots. The 18 Bundesliga clubs and the top 14 clubs from the previous season's 2. Bundesliga are in one pot, and draw one team from the other pot.
All ties take place over one leg.
Prize Money
According to the DFB website, a total of €74.2 million was awarded in the 2025/26 DFB-Pokal and money for the 2026/27 season is likely to be similar, with the winners pocketing €11 million over the course of the competition.
For reaching the first round, clubs will be awarded €209,453, with the prize money roughly doubling for each round of the competition.
Stage | Prize money |
|---|---|
First round | €209,453 |
Second round | €418,906 |
Round of 16 | €837,813 |
Quarter-finals | €1,675,625 |
Semi-finals | €3,351,250 |
Runner-up | €2,880,000 |
Winner | €4,320,000 |
Previous Winners
In total, 26 teams have won the DFB-Pokal, with reigning champions Bayern Munich leading the way with 21 trophies to their name.
Werder Bremen are next with six, with Schakle 04, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt next on five each.
Season | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
1935 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 2–0 | Schalke 04 |
1936 | VfB Leipzig | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
1937 | Schalke 04 | 2–1 | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
1938 | Rapid Wien | 3–1 | FSV Frankfurt |
1939 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 2–0 | Waldhof Mannheim |
1940 | Dresdner SC | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Nürnberg |
1941 | Dresdner SC | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
1942 | 1860 Munich | 2–0 | Schalke 04 |
1943 | First Vienna | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | LSV Hamburg |
Reformed as the DFB-Pokal | |||
1952–53 | Rot-Weiss Essen | 2–1 | Alemannia Aachen |
1953–54 | VfB Stuttgart | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln |
1954–55 | Karlsruher SC | 3–2 | Schalke 04 |
1955–56 | Karlsruher SC | 3–1 | Hamburger SV |
1956–57 | Bayern Munich | 1–0 | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
1957–58 | VfB Stuttgart | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
1958–59 | Schwarz-Weiß Essen (II) | 5–2 | Borussia Neunkirchen |
1959–60 | Borussia München Gladbach | 3–2 | Karlsruher SC |
1960–61 | Werder Bremen | 2–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
1961–62 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
1962–63 | Hamburger SV | 3–0 | Borussia Dortmund |
1963–64 | 1860 Munich | 2–0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
1964–65 | Borussia Dortmund | 2–0 | Alemannia Aachen (II) |
1965–66 | Bayern Munich | 4–2 | Meidericher SV |
1966–67 | Bayern Munich | 4–0 | Hamburger SV |
1967–68 | 1. FC Köln | 4–1 | VfL Bochum (II) |
1968–69 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
1969–70 | Kickers Offenbach (II) | 2–1 | 1. FC Köln |
1970–71 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln |
1971–72 | Schalke 04 | 5–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
1972–73 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln |
1973–74 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Hamburger SV |
1974–75 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 1–0 | MSV Duisburg |
1975–76 | Hamburger SV | 2–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
1976–77 | 1. FC Köln | 1–1 (a.e.t.); 1-0* | Hertha BSC |
1977–78 | 1. FC Köln | 2–0 | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
1978–79 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Hertha BSC |
1979–80 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 2–1 | 1. FC Köln |
1980–81 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 3–1 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
1981–82 | Bayern Munich | 4–2 | 1. FC Nürnberg |
1982–83 | 1. FC Köln | 1–0 | Fortuna Köln (II) |
1983–84 | Bayern Munich | 1–1 (a.e.t.)** | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
1984–85 | Bayer Uerdingen | 2–1 | Bayern Munich |
1985–86 | Bayern Munich | 5–2 | VfB Stuttgart |
1986–87 | Hamburger SV | 3–1 | Stuttgarter Kickers (II) |
1987–88 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 1–0 | VfL Bochum |
1988–89 | Borussia Dortmund | 4–1 | Werder Bremen |
1989–90 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 3–2 | Werder Bremen |
1990–91 | Werder Bremen | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | 1. FC Köln |
1991–92 | Hannover 96 (II) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
1992–93 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–0 | Hertha BSC Amateure (III) |
1993–94 | Werder Bremen | 3–1 | Rot-Weiss Essen (II) |
1994–95 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 3–0 | VfL Wolfsburg (II) |
1995–96 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 1–0 | Karlsruher SC |
1996–97 | VfB Stuttgart | 2–0 | Energie Cottbus (III) |
1997–98 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 | MSV Duisburg |
1998–99 | Werder Bremen | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Bayern Munich |
1999–2000 | Bayern Munich | 3–0 | Werder Bremen |
2000–01 | Schalke 04 | 2–0 | Union Berlin (III) |
2001–02 | Schalke 04 | 4–2 | Bayer Leverkusen |
2002–03 | Bayern Munich | 3–1 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
2003–04 | Werder Bremen | 3–2 | Alemannia Aachen (II) |
2004–05 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
2005–06 | Bayern Munich | 1–0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
2006–07 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | VfB Stuttgart |
2007–08 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Borussia Dortmund |
2008–09 | Werder Bremen | 1–0 | Bayer Leverkusen |
2009–10 | Bayern Munich | 4–0 | Werder Bremen |
2010–11 | Schalke 04 | 5–0 | MSV Duisburg (II) |
2011–12 | Borussia Dortmund | 5–2 | Bayern Munich |
2012–13 | Bayern Munich | 3–2 | VfB Stuttgart |
2013–14 | Bayern Munich | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Borussia Dortmund |
2014–15 | VfL Wolfsburg | 3–1 | Borussia Dortmund |
2015–16 | Bayern Munich | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Borussia Dortmund |
2016–17 | Borussia Dortmund | 2–1 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
2017–18 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 3–1 | Bayern Munich |
2018–19 | Bayern Munich | 3–0 | RB Leipzig |
2019–20 | Bayern Munich | 4–2 | Bayer Leverkusen |
2020–21 | Borussia Dortmund | 4–1 | RB Leipzig |
2021–22 | RB Leipzig | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4-2 p) | SC Freiburg |
2022–23 | RB Leipzig | 2–0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
2023–24 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
2024/25 | VfB Stuttgart | 4-2 | Arminia |
2025/26 | Bayern Munich | 3-0 | VfB Stuttgart |
*1. FC Köln won 1-0 in a replay.
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