The new season of the DFB-Pokal Frauen kicks off tomorrow 27 September 2025, marking the start of the 44th edition of Germany’s most prestigious women’s cup competition. Clubs from all levels of German women’s football will compete for a place in the final at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on 14 May 2026, a venue that has hosted the showcase event since 2010. FC Bayern are the current champions, having lifted the trophy last season. VfL Wolfsburg remain the most successful club in the competition’s history, holding the record for most titles. The inaugural edition was won by SV 09 Bergisch Gladbach.
This season comes with a change in structure. The competition began with play-off round that brought together 21 Verbandspokal (regional cup) winners, five newly promoted Regionalliga clubs, and six teams from the 2. Bundesliga. Once that stage was complete, the winners joined all 12 Bundesliga sides along with the top four from the second tier in the first round proper, creating a round of 32. From there, the DFB-Pokal Frauen continues in a traditional knockout style, moving through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final in Cologne.
The first round draws are electric, with Borussia Dortmund facing a daunting clash against Bayern Munich on September 29 and ATS Buntentor taking on Wolfsburg tomorrow September 27. Other must-watch ties include FC Ingolstadt vs. 1. FC Nürnberg, SG Andernach vs. RB Leipzig, and SV Elversberg vs. Bayer Leverkusen, each a potential springboard for glory or an early exit for smaller clubs. The journey continues with the Round of 16 in mid-November, quarterfinals in March, semifinals in early April, and the grand finale in May. The race for the golden boot is already heating up, with Ingolstadt’s Emma Kusch leading the pack after netting five goals in that historic rout. She’ll need to stay sharp to outpace last season’s top goal scorer Sarah Grünheid who scored a total of 8 goals. Consistency across rounds will be key to claiming the scoring crown.
Key Dates
- First Round: 27–29 September 2025
- Round of 16: 15–17 November 2025
- Quarter-finals: 11–12 March 2026
- Semi-finals: 4–6 April 2026
- Final: 14 May 2026, Cologne
