Prize Money Distribution for the DFB-Pokal 2025/2026 Season
Explore the prize money distribution for the DFB-Pokal 2025/2026 season, detailing financial implications for clubs and comparing with the FA Cup.
As the DFB-Pokal kicks off, professional football in Germany gears up for the 2025/2026 season. This tournament holds significant financial implications, particularly for smaller clubs. The DFB generates millions of euros through the marketing of TV rights, which are then allocated to teams based on their performance in the competition.
Distribution of DFB-Pokal Prizes
The prize money for the DFB-Pokal is predetermined before the season starts and is distributed according to the clubs' results in each round. For the 2025/26 season, the total prize pool has been raised to 75 million euros.
The breakdown of the prize money for this season is as follows:
- 1st Round: 211,886 euros per club
- 2nd Round: 423,772 euros
- Round of 16: 847,544 euros
- Quarterfinals: 1,695,088 euros
- Semifinals: 3,390,175 euros
- Final Loser: 2,880,000 euros
- Final Winner: 4,320,000 euros
Additional Revenue from Ticket Sales
In addition to the prize money, clubs can earn revenue from ticket sales. The income from ticket sales is shared between the participating teams for each DFB-Pokal match.
Prize Money Trends Over Recent Years
Here's a look at the prize money distribution over the last few seasons:
| Season | 1st Round | 2nd Round | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final (Loser) | Winner | |----------|-----------|-----------|-------------|---------------|------------|----------------|--------| | 2025/26 | 211,886 | 423,772 | 847,544 | 1,695,088 | 3,390,175 | 2,880,000 | 4,320,000 | | 2024/25 | 209,247 | 418,494 | 837,813 | 1,675,625 | 3,351,250 | 2,880,000 | 4,320,000 | | 2023/24 | 215,600 | 431,200 | 862,400 | 1,724,800 | 3,449,600 | 2,880,000 | 4,320,000 | | 2022/23 | 209,247 | 418,494 | 836,988 | 1,673,000 | 3,347,000 | 2,880,000 | 4,320,000 |
The prize payouts have seen slight increases compared to the previous year.
Schedule and Format
The DFB-Pokal season will commence on August 15, 2025, with the first round. The second round is scheduled for October 28-29, 2025. The Round of 16 will take place on December 2-3, 2025, followed by the quarterfinals in February 2026. The semifinals are set for April 21-22, 2026, and the final will be held on May 23, 2026, at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
TV rights are held by ARD, ZDF, and Sky, with all matches broadcast live. Highlights will also be available on DAZN.
International Comparison
In comparison, the FA Cup in England offers its winners approximately £2,000,000 for the 2025/26 season, with the runners-up receiving £1,000,000.
For a detailed overview of the FA Cup prize distribution, refer to the article: FA Cup 2025/2026 – How the Millions Are Distributed.
The DFB-Pokal's prize money constitutes a minor portion of total revenue for most professional clubs, yet it remains crucial for smaller teams.
Max R. Founder of Fussball-Geld.de. Studied law and holds a master's degree in sports management. Interested in numbers, overviews, legal matters, and the economic aspects of football.
