Overview
- Quarterfinals run from 3 to 11 February with 20:45 kick-offs: Leverkusen vs St. Pauli (Feb. 3), Holstein Kiel vs VfB Stuttgart (Feb. 4), Hertha BSC vs SC Freiburg (Feb. 10), FC Bayern vs RB Leipzig (Feb. 11).
- The Bayern–Leipzig match will be broadcast live on ARD with streams on sportschau.de and in the ARD Mediathek, and it will also be available on Sky.
- Leverkusen–St. Pauli and Holstein Kiel–Stuttgart will air on ZDF and Sky, while Hertha–Freiburg is exclusive to Sky.
- The DFB continues its two-week quarterfinal format introduced in 2024, with semifinals set for 21–22 April and the final on 23 May at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
- The federation confirms a slight rise in prize money compared with last season, with clubs sharing gate and advertising revenue after costs and 10% going to the DFB, and the cup winner earning a Europa League place subject to redistribution if already qualified.