What is the format of the DFB-Pokal?
The competition format of the DFB Pokal has undergone significant transformations over the years. Originally accommodating a fluctuating number of teams ranging from 4 to 128, the DFB Pokal table has now settled into a standardized format featuring 64 German football teams engaging in a knockout-style competition that leaves no room for second chances.
In the initial round, these 64 teams are strategically divided into two pots, each comprising 32 teams. The first pot includes the top 18 teams from the Bundesliga and the top 14 teams from the 2. Bundesliga. Meanwhile, the second pot encompasses the bottom 4 teams from the previous season of the 2. Bundesliga, the leading 4 teams from the prior Liga season, and 24 amateur teams that earned their spots through success in regional football tournaments.
After this draw, teams from the first pot are matched up to play against players in the second pot, tasking the amateur teams with hosting the matches at their home stadium.