Overview

• The draw starts at 19:00 and will air live on ARD’s Sportschau with a Joyn livestream, with ex-referee Dr. Felix Brych conducting the draw and Alex Schlüter moderating.
• Pairings follow the two-pot format that separates Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs from lower-league teams, with any club drawn from the amateur pot granted home advantage.
• Two first-round ties are still to be played due to the Supercup: Eintracht Braunschweig vs VfB Stuttgart on August 26 (ARD and Sky) and Wehen Wiesbaden vs Bayern Munich on August 27 (ZDF and Sky).
• As things stand, 13 Bundesliga sides and 11 from the second tier have advanced alongside Energie Cottbus from the 3. Liga and FV Illertissen from the Regionalliga.
• Second-round matches are scheduled for October 28–29, with Sky broadcasting all games live and two fixtures also available free-to-air on ARD/ZDF.