Overview

• Thirty of the 32 first-round matches are scheduled between August 15 and 18, with VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich joining the competition on August 26–27 after the Supercup.
• Sky retains exclusive pay-TV rights to all games while public broadcasters will air four first-round fixtures, including the Rot-Weiss Essen vs. Borussia Dortmund derby on August 18.
• The DFB has increased the total prize pool to about €75 million, boosting first-round payouts to €211,886 per club to amplify financial incentives for underdog sides.
• New procedural rules impose an eight-second limit on goalkeeper ball control and mandate retakes for penalty double-touch goals in an effort to curb time-wasting.
• Miroslav Klose confirmed Christian Mathenia as 1. FC Nürnberg’s cup goalkeeper while Borussia Dortmund defender Niklas Süle faces a multi-week absence after a muscle-bundle tear.