DFB-Pokal

The DFB-Pokal is Germany's premier knockout football competition, organized by the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB). First held in 1935, it features teams from across Germany's football pyramid, including Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and amateur clubs. The tournament is renowned for its giant-killing upsets and dramatic finals, with the winner earning a Europa League spot. Bayern Munich holds the record for most titles (20), while recent editions have seen underdogs like RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt lift the trophy.

The 2023-24 DFB-Pokal is underway, featuring 64 teams in a single-elimination format. Bundesliga sides entered in August, with early rounds producing shocks like third-tier Saarbrücken eliminating Bayern Munich. The semifinals saw Bayer Leverkusen continue their unbeaten streak under Xabi Alonso, while Kaiserslautern became the first 2. Bundesliga finalist since 2011. The final will be played at Berlin's Olympiastadion on May 25, 2024.