The draw for the second round of the DFB-Pokal has set up a series of compelling fixtures across German football, highlighted by holders FC Bayern drawing a lower-division opponent and Borussia Dortmund facing a familiar rival, according to reports from German football data outlets. The fixtures are scheduled to be played on October 27 and 28.
For the first time in 18 years, all 18 Bundesliga clubs successfully navigated the opening round of the tournament. However, lower-tier clubs still managed to create intrigue as the competition narrowed down to the remaining participants heading into late autumn.
Bayern Munich Draw FC Magdeburg in Repeat of 2000 Upset
Title holders FC Bayern Munich received a home fixture against 1. FC Magdeburg, a matchup that immediately revives memories of one of the tournament’s most famous historical upsets. During the 2000–01 season, Magdeburg eliminated Bayern on home turf during the second round, a result that stunned German football at the time.
The draw was conducted by 2014 World Cup winner, Bayern-Legende, and record DFB-Pokal winner Bastian Schweinsteiger. Due to state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, tournament organizers advanced the draw by a day, holding it on a Saturday evening between league fixtures.
Borussia Dortmund Face Werder Bremen in Historic Cup Tie
Among the standout fixtures featuring top-flight clubs, Borussia Dortmund will host Werder Bremen. Historical records show that Dortmund has struggled against the northern side in this competition, failing to win a DFB-Pokal match against Bremen in nearly 18 years. Werder won each of their last three cup meetings in 2009, 2019, and 2020.
Other all-Bundesliga pairings drawn for the second round include 1. FC Köln hosting Union Berlin, Hamburger SV welcoming Eintracht Frankfurt, and this year’s finalists VfB Stuttgart traveling to face promoted Paderborn.
Amateur and Lower-Tier Teams Chase Cup Surprises
The sole remaining Regionalliga club in the competition, Jeddeloh II—noted for eliminating Heidenheim in the first round—was drawn at home against Hertha BSC. The pairing sparked immediate celebrations at the amateur club’s headquarters, where supporters chanted about traveling to Berlin ahead of hosting the capital club.
Other lower-division sides face steep tests against Bundesliga opposition. Rot-Weiss Essen will play UEFA Champions League participants RB Leipzig, while Sonnenhof Großaspach takes on FC Augsburg. In the only all-2. FC Kaiserslautern.
Video Assistant Referee Enters Earlier Than Ever
The second round will also mark a major operational shift for the tournament. For the first time in DFB-Pokal history, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be deployed during the second main round, rather than waiting until the Round of 16. The change comes despite widespread fan protests and banner campaigns during the opening round calling for the abolition of the technology.
Exact match times for the October 27 and 28 fixtures will be announced in the coming weeks. Winners will advance to the Round of 16 in early December, with the competition ultimately concluding with the final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on May 29, 2027.
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