Following the last play-off match between Regional League Borussia Dortmund and second division Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-1), former Germany international Turid Knaak drew the 16 matches with the draw led by Maren Meinert, the Germany Women's team assistant coach. The first round proper was drawn from two pots. The 16 winners of the play-off matches were in pot one and were drawn at home. The teams from the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga plus Turbine Potsdam and SC Sand from the Women's Bundesliga 2 were in pot two.
The winners of the 16 ties qualify for the Round of 16 with those matches played between 15 and 17 November. The quarter-finals follow on 11 and 12 March 2026 before the four remaining teams meet in the semi-finals from 4 to 6 April 2026. The final will be played on Ascension Day, 14 May 2026, at the RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne as usual.
The Leverkusen Women are currently away at their training camp in Rieden in Bavaria (17 to 23 August) preparing for the new season. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold play league rivals VfL Wolfsburg in a friendly on Friday, 22 August (14:00 CEST, Stadion Grüne Au, Hof, live stream on Werkself TV and on the Bayer 04 app). Following the return to Leverkusen, there is a final friendly against the Belgian club Standard Liège on Saturday, 30 August (16:00 CEST, 3 x 45 minutes, Kurtekotten). The new Bundesliga season kicks off a week later on Saturday, 6 September (17:45 CEST, live on ARD, Magenta Sport and DAZN) with the official opening fixture away to the champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
DFB POKAL FIRST ROUND DRAW
SV Meppen vs SC Sand
SV 07 Elversberg vs Bayer 04
BSG Chemie Leipzig vs FC Carl Zeiss Jena
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich
SG 99 Andernach vs RB Leipzig
FC Magdeburg vs Hamburg SV
SC Viktoria Hamburg vs Werder Bremen
FC Ingolstadt vs FC Nürnberg
Hannover 96 vs SC Freiburg
ATS Buntentor vs VfL Wolfsburg
Kickers Offenbach vs SGS Essen
Viktoria Berlin vs Eintracht Frankfurt
VfR Warbeyen vs FC Köln
FFC Montabaur vs FFC Turbine Potsdam
SpVgg Greuther Fürth vs TSG Hoffenheim
FSV Mainz 05 vs FC Union Berlin
From his arrival at the airport, the medical and contract signing, right through to photo shoots, his very own trading card and his first interview at the BayArena: Werkself TV followed new signing Afonso Moreira up close on his first day in Leverkusen. In the interview, the 21-year-old Portuguese left-winger, who has joined the Werkself from Lyon, talks about his excitement ahead of joining Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga, as well as his conversation with head coach Carles Martínez. Moreira also reveals the secret behind his iconic goal celebration – which he intends to perform “as often as possible” at the BayArena next season...
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A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
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After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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