Overview
- The DFB said on Friday that General Secretary Holger Blask has been charged with preparing an extraordinary Bundestag on 18 December 2026 to hold a binding vote on the proposal.
- The favored Kompass model would cut the Regionalliga from five to four staffeln, each of 20 clubs, with teams placed by geographic criteria and the 2027/28 season run as a qualification year ahead of full implementation in 2028/29.
- If approved every Regionalliga champion would gain direct promotion to the 3. Liga, replacing the current mix in which only West and Südwest winners advance automatically while Nord, Nordost and Bayern use rotation and play‑offs.
- A previous reform effort failed at the end of June because regional delegates backed different solutions, and the DFB’s claim of a slim nationwide majority for the Kompass model raises questions about governance and the DFB taking over operational control of the new leagues.
- The change could alter travel patterns, preserve local derbies and concentrate talent development, and the decisive next steps to watch are the DFB’s December vote and how clubs are allocated for the 2027/28 qualification season.