
Oliver Roggisch, handball World Cup winner in 2007 and current manager of the Germany handball team, pulled out the balls at the German Football museum in Dortmund with ten Bayer 04 fans in the audience. The ties involving the remaining eight teams will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 and 7 February. Tickets for the game against Werder Bremen go on sale on 16 January. SC Paderborn, the only third division side left in the competition, have been drawn against record winners Bayern Munich.
Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade commented on the tie: “A good draw even though Werder haven’t always been easy to play against in the recent past. Of course, we’re very happy to be playing at home and we’ll do all we can to continue our cup run.” Head coach Heiko Herrlich said: “It’s a tough challenge and a great opportunity at the same time. Bremen have made progress under the new coach and are continuing to improve. Werder will give us a real test, just like in the league. On the other hand, we’re at home. With our fans behind us, we have a great chance of going through to the semi-finals. We definitely want to take that chance.“
The Werkself last played Werder Bremen at the BayArena on Bundesliga matchday 16 in the middle of December and ran out deserved winners with a 1-0 victory. Bayer 04 and Werder have often met in cup competitions including the UEFA Cup semi-final in 1988 and the DFB Cup final in 2009. The last cup meeting was also in the DFB Cup in the 2015/16 campaign at the quarter-final stage: Bremen fought back from a goal down at the BayArena to win 3-1. February brings the next shoot-out in the DFB Cup.
Eintracht Frankfurt v FSV Mainz 05
Bayer 04 v Werder Bremen
SC Paderborn v Bayern Munich
FC Schalke 04 v VfL Wolfsburg

A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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