Where to Watch the DFB-Pokal First Round: Free-TV and Pay-TV Broadcast Guide 2026
Which Channels Are Showing the First Round Matches?
The first round of the 2026/27 DFB-Pokal runs from 21 August to 2 September 2026, with 32 matches spread across two weekends and midweek. As in recent seasons, the broadcast rights are split: Sky shows every fixture live on its pay-TV platform, while three free-to-air channels — ARD, ZDF and RTL — each carry selected matches.
Sky remains the only broadcaster with all 32 games. Subscribers can watch every first-round encounter, including the six matches that also air on free television. The free-to-air lineup this year is:
- ARD: Hallescher FC vs Schalke 04 and VfL Osnabrück vs Bayern Munich.
- ZDF: Hansa Rostock vs VfB Stuttgart.
- RTL: HEBC Hamburg vs Borussia Dortmund, 1. FC Saarbrücken vs Hertha BSC, and Würzburger Kickers vs 1. FC Köln.
Because Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich also contest the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, their first-round ties are delayed to 1 and 2 September respectively.
What Changes for the Second Round?
The second round draw takes place on 5 September 2026, live on ARD’s Sportschau from the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The draw uses two pots: one containing all Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga teams, the other containing amateur sides (Regionalliga and below). Teams from the amateur pot always draw home advantage.
A notable change this season: the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used from the second round onward, rather than starting in the round of 16 as in previous years. The DFB confirmed the change in consultation with broadcast partners and clubs. The second round itself is scheduled for 27 and 28 October 2026.
What This Means for Fans
For viewers without a Sky subscription, the free-to-air matches offer limited but attractive coverage. The six games on ARD, ZDF and RTL include two of the biggest clubs — Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund — and several potential upset fixtures. Fans in Germany can watch those matches without a pay-TV package.
Sky’s full coverage means that every other first-round match, including lower-league hosts like SC Verl, VSG Altglienicke or Phönix Lübeck, is available live. The DFB also increased prize money this season; a first-round winner earns around €250,000, and the eventual cup winner collects roughly €13 million in total.
The final is set for 29 May 2027 at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. With the early rounds now mapped out and a new VAR policy in place, the 2026/27 DFB-Pokal season offers clear viewing choices for football fans across Germany.