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DFB Pokal (German Cup)

The DFB-Pokal, often referred to in English as the German Cup, is Germany's top cup competition. On the men's side it was first awarded in 1935; the women's tournament was first played out in the 1980-81 season.

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Schalke's Christopher Antwi-Adjei in his white-and-blue shirt

Schalke's Christopher Antwi-Adjei in his white-and-blue shirt

German Football Association investigating cup game racism

Two German Cup matches were briefly stopped over the weekend over alleged racist abuse.

Arminia Bielefeld - VfB Stuttgart

Arminia Bielefeld - VfB Stuttgart

Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 to win German Cup

Third Division winners Bielefeld had their dreams dashed by Stuttgart, who lifted their fourth ever German Cup.

Three players of Armenia Bielefeld celebrate a goal

Three players of Armenia Bielefeld celebrate a goal

Arminia Bielefeld prepare for first German Cup final

The third-devision team are preparing for arguably the biggest game in the club's history.

Energie Cottbus players hug each other in celebration on a snow covered pitch

Energie Cottbus players hug each other in celebration on a snow covered pitch

David vs. Goliath: The biggest German Cup upsets

When lower-tier clubs take on domestic giants, the roles are clear. But sometimes teams upset the odds.

DFB-Pokal 2025 | Halbfinale | Hamburger SV vs. SV Werder Bremen | Zweikampf zwischen Sophie Weidauer und Jaqueline Doenges

DFB-Pokal 2025 | Halbfinale | Hamburger SV vs. SV Werder Bremen | Zweikampf zwischen Sophie Weidauer und Jaqueline Doenges

57,000 fans set record at women's German Cup semifinal

Hamburg's match against Werder Bremen set a new record attendance for a women's club game in Germany.

Baye Leverkusen lift the trophy amid falling confetti

Baye Leverkusen lift the trophy amid falling confetti

Bayer Leverkusen beats Kaiserslautern in German Cup final

An early strike from Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka secured victory against second-division Kaiserslautern.

Alexandra Popp kisses the German Cup

Alexandra Popp kisses the German Cup

Wolfsburg win 10th straight German Cup, deny Bayern double

Bayern Munich may have wrestled the Bundesliga title away, but Wolfsburg would not give up the German Cup so easily.

Staff using leaf blowers on puddles on pitch

Staff using leaf blowers on puddles on pitch

German Cup quarterfinal rained off due to waterlogged pitch

Persistent heavy rain saw Saarbrücken's DFB Pokal match against Borussia Mönchengladbach postponed.

First round of the German Cup: Hallescher FC - SpVgg Greuther Fürth

First round of the German Cup: Hallescher FC - SpVgg Greuther Fürth

Fürth player Julian Green racially abused in German Cup

The forward of the second division football team Greuther Fürth Julian Green was racially insulted by spectators.

Leipzig's Willi Orban lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates

Leipzig's Willi Orban lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates

German Cup: Historic feat cements Leipzig's elite status

Leipzig's German Cup title defense caps off Marco Rose's revival and cements their place among Germany's elite.

Svenja Huth lifts the German Cup

Svenja Huth lifts the German Cup

Wolfsburg make themselves at home in another German Cup win

Wolfsburg may have fallen behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga but the German Cup rarely leaves their grasp.

Marco Reus scratches his head in confusion

Marco Reus scratches his head in confusion

Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich out of German Cup

The absence of Germany's top two teams in the latter stages of the German Cup has heightened the symbolism of the cup.

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel

Football: Tuchel's Bayern Munich 'come back down to earth'

Any expectations that under Tuchel, Bayern Munich would bulldoze all in front of them were quashed by defeat in the Cup.

Joao Cancelo hugs Leroy Sane

Joao Cancelo hugs Leroy Sane

Joao Cancelo debut proves Nagelsmann's point

He may have arrived late, but Joao Cancelo needed no time to settle in as Bayern beat Mainz 4-0 in the German Cup.

Ewa Pajor and Lynn Wilms celebrate a goal

Ewa Pajor and Lynn Wilms celebrate a goal

Wolfsburg win 8th straight women's German Cup

Wolfsburg completed a domestic double after comfortably seeing off Turbine Potsdam in the German Cup final.

Almuth Schult

Almuth Schult

Schult targeting eighth cup triumph ahead of move to LA

Goalkeeper Almuth Schult still has a final goal in Germany: an eighth German Cup win in her last game for Wolfsburg.

Leipzig lift German Cup title

Leipzig lift German Cup title

'The club belongs to those who identify with it'

Leipzig's German Cup win comes with major caveats, but the club has tapped into a mentality which simply doesn't care.

Leipzig celebrate title win

Leipzig celebrate title win

German Cup: RB Leipzig route to German Cup title

In record time, RB Leipzig has developed from a regional division club to German Cup winners.

Freiburg's Nils Petersen leads the celebrations with a megaphone after Freiburg's semifinal win over Hamburg

Freiburg's Nils Petersen leads the celebrations with a megaphone after Freiburg's semifinal win over Hamburg

Freiburg has 'a specific type of intelligence'

This season's German Cup finalists are cut from different cloth, but SC Freiburg won't deviate from their unique path.

Emil Forsberg celebrates a goal

Emil Forsberg celebrates a goal

Forsberg sends RB Leipzig to German Cup final

RB Leipzig are to face Freiburg in the German Cup final thanks to an injury-time header from Emil Forsberg.

Freiburg's players celebrate their win

Freiburg's players celebrate their win

Freiburg reach first ever German Cup final

Freiburg continued their remarkable season with a 3-1 win over Hamburg, to book their ticket to Berlin.

Wolfsburg players celebrate their opener

Wolfsburg players celebrate their opener

Wolfsburg beat Bayern again to stay on course for treble

Wolfsburg booked their spot in the German Cup final with a convincing 3-1 win on Sunday.

Christopher Nkunku celebrates a goal for RB Leipzig

Christopher Nkunku celebrates a goal for RB Leipzig

'Mature' RB Leipzig wear favorites tag lightly

A Christopher Nkunku brace helped RB Leipzig ease in to the last four of the German Cup. Will it be third time lucky?

FC union players jump on track

FC union players jump on track

German Cup: Union cement status as kings of Berlin

Union Berlin beat Hertha to offer further proof of their capital city supremacy, writes DW's Tom Gennoy in Berlin.

DFB Pokal | St. Pauli - Dortmund

DFB Pokal | St. Pauli - Dortmund

German Cup: Holders Dortmund ousted by St Pauli

St Pauli sent shockwaves through the German Cup, knocking out holders Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern Munich's players celebrate a goal

Bayern Munich's players celebrate a goal

Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt to make quarterfinals

It seems Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt can only play wildly entertaining games against each other.

Thomas Müller in Borussia Mönchengladbach v Bayern Munich

Thomas Müller in Borussia Mönchengladbach v Bayern Munich

German Cup: Gladbach inflict 5-0 defeat on Bayern

Bayern Munich are out of the German Cup after an unbelievable performance by Borussia Mönchengladbach, who won 5-0.

DFB Pokal | Preußen Münster v VfL Wolfsburg

DFB Pokal | Preußen Münster v VfL Wolfsburg

German Cup: Wolfsburg appeal German Cup elimination

Wolfsburg have appealed a decision to elimate them from the German Cup for making too many substitutions.

New Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Adi Hütter got off to a winning start

New Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Adi Hütter got off to a winning start

Gladbach warm up for Bayern with cup win over Kaiserslautern

Ahead of their Bundesliga opener against Bayern, Gladbach overcame Kaiserslautern in the cup. But bigger tests await.

New Wolfsburg coach Mark van Bommel made a potentially costly mistake

New Wolfsburg coach Mark van Bommel made a potentially costly mistake

German Cup: Münster lodge appeal over Wolfsburg substitutes

Fourth division side has officially appealed against 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in the German Cup first round.

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky

German Cup: Potential Bundesliga first-round upsets

DW speculates on Bundesliga sides that could suffer an upset in the first round of the German Cup.

Heiko Scholz (bottom right) won the German Cup with Bayer Leverkusen - and the East German Cup with Lok Leipzig

Heiko Scholz (bottom right) won the German Cup with Bayer Leverkusen - and the East German Cup with Lok Leipzig

How to win the cup in both East and West Germany

Heiko Scholz won domestic cups with both Lok Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen. The pair faced off in the German Cup.

Wolfsburg's injured captain Alexandra Popp lifts the women's German Cup

Wolfsburg's injured captain Alexandra Popp lifts the women's German Cup

German Cup: Wolfsburg crowned champions again

Wolfsburg are German Cup winners for the seventh straight year, but they did it the hard way versus Eintracht Frankfurt.

Marco Reus celebrates the German Cup win

Marco Reus celebrates the German Cup win

Ruthless Dortmund teach Leipzig's Nagelsmann a bitter lesson

A ruthless display from Dortmund saw them spoil Julian Nagelsmann's leaving party on their way to German Cup glory.

Marco Reus celebrates after scoring

Marco Reus celebrates after scoring

Dortmund beat Kiel to set up final against RB Leipzig

Dortmund's win sets up a defining final for those involved, but also highlights the cost of pandemic football.

The moment Emil Forsberg sent RB Leipzig to Berlin.

The moment Emil Forsberg sent RB Leipzig to Berlin.

German Cup: Forsberg strikes late to send Leipzig to final

Emil Fosberg's 120th minute winner sent RB Leipzig to the German Cup final in dramatic fashion against Werder Bremen.

Fussball DFB-Pokal Frauen VfL Wolfsburg - FC Bayern München

Fussball DFB-Pokal Frauen VfL Wolfsburg - FC Bayern München

Wolfsburg reach Women's German Cup final

Wolfsburg overcame the heartache of their recent Champions League exit with victory over rivals Bayern Munich.

Yussuf Poulsen puts the ball in the net for RB Leipzig's opener against Wolfsburg.

Yussuf Poulsen puts the ball in the net for RB Leipzig's opener against Wolfsburg.

German Cup: RB Leipzig see off Wolfsburg to reach final four

RB Leipzig's dreams of winning a first major trophy are still alive as they reached the semi-finals of the German Cup.

Borussia Dortmund celebrate Jadon Sancho's winning goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach

Borussia Dortmund celebrate Jadon Sancho's winning goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach

German Cup: Sancho fires Dortmund into final four

Borussia Dortmund are into the final four of the German Cup following a narrow win at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Marco Rose stands with hands outstretched

Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Marco Rose stands with hands outstretched

Rose under pressure as Gladbach's season unravels

Gladbach host Dortmund in the German Cup on Tuesday, with Marco Rose under the spotlight.

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Borussia Dortmund - Bundesliga

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Borussia Dortmund - Bundesliga

German Cup draw pits Dortmund against Gladbach

The biggest two clubs left in the German Cup, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach will meet in the quarters.

Deutschland DFB-Pokalspiel Leipzig vs VfL Bochum

Deutschland DFB-Pokalspiel Leipzig vs VfL Bochum

German Cup: RB Leipzig and Gladbach keep the dream alive

RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach are both through to the last eight of the German Cup — but Cologne are out.

Rot-Weiss Essen's players celebrate as a deflated Karim Demirbay looks down.

Rot-Weiss Essen's players celebrate as a deflated Karim Demirbay looks down.

German Cup: Leverkusen shocked by Rot-Weiss Essen

Rot-Weiss Essen of the Regionalliga West pulled off a famous German Cup win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern Munich's players watch on during the penalty shootout at Holstein Kiel.

Bayern Munich's players watch on during the penalty shootout at Holstein Kiel.

Is Bayern’s defeat in Kiel a sign of deeper problems?

Was Bayern Munich's unexpected defeat merely a blip, or a sign of deeper problems for the champions?

Kiel celebrate an historic victory

Kiel celebrate an historic victory

Bayern out of German Cup after penalty shootout loss to Kiel

Bayern Munich went to Kiel hoping to rediscover their mojo but in the end they couldn't even get the result they needed.

Deutschland DFB-Pokal | Leverkusen gegen Frankfurt | Tor (4:1)

Deutschland DFB-Pokal | Leverkusen gegen Frankfurt | Tor (4:1)

Leverkusen mount comeback win over Frankfurt

Leverkusen showed character to mount a comeback 4-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup.

DFB Pokal - Hertha BSC v FC Bayern Muenchen - Trophäe

DFB Pokal - Hertha BSC v FC Bayern Muenchen - Trophäe

Sports news feed: Fun match-ups in German Cup draw

There will be just two all-Bundesliga clashes in the men's German Cup Round of 16 following the draw on Sunday.

Champions League final - Bayern players through Hansi Flick into the air

Champions League final - Bayern players through Hansi Flick into the air

Bayern Munich in 2020: A year of superlatives

Even by Bayern Munich's high standards, 2020 was a historic year, as they won every piece of of silverware available.

FSV Mainz 05 - VfL Bochum

FSV Mainz 05 - VfL Bochum

German Cup: Mainz ousted by brilliant Bochum

Bochum reached the last 16 of the German Cup with a thrilling comeback win over Bundesliga side Mainz.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - SpVgg Greuther Fuerth

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - SpVgg Greuther Fuerth

German Cup: Hoffenheim out, Dortmund scrape through

Hoffenheim are out of the German Cup after losing 7-6 on penalties to second tier team Greuther Fürth.