Football in Germany

Football is the most popular sport in Germany, with many people showing great interest in watching it. The German Football Association manages the sport and has millions of members across thousands of clubs. Germany has a strong league system, with the top teams competing in the Bundesliga.

The Germany national football team has achieved amazing success, winning four FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. The women's team has also done very well, winning two FIFA Women's World Cups and many UEFA European Women's Championships. Germany has hosted many important football tournaments, showing its love for the sport.

History

Main article: History of German football

The first football match in Germany likely happened in Braunschweig in 1874. Two schoolteachers, August Hermann and Konrad Koch, started the match after Hermann brought a football from England. In 1875, Koch wrote the first German rules for the game, which still looked a bit like rugby.

The first modern football club in Germany was the Dresden English Football Club, founded in 1874 by English people living in Dresden. Over the next 20 years, more clubs started in places like Berlin, Hamburg, and Stuttgart.

On January 28, 1900, leaders from 86 football clubs met in Leipzig and created the German Football Association (DFB). The German national team began playing in 1908 and has been guided by the DFB ever since.

After World War I, Germany’s first international match was in Zürich in 1920. In the 1920s, top clubs were from Franconia, like 1. FC Nürnberg and SpVgg Fürth.

During the Nazi time, groups with left-wing ideas were not allowed. Football was organized differently until after the war.

After the war, Germany was split, and teams from West Germany, Saarland, and East Germany played separately for a while. The FIFA World Cup 1974 happened in West Germany. In 1990, after Germany reunited, the West Germany team became the Germany team. Since then, Germany has won many big tournaments, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The women's team has also done very well, winning the 2003 and 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

German Football Association

The German Football Association is the main group that looks after football in Germany. It is based in Frankfurt and was started in 1900 in Leipzig by 86 clubs. Today, it has around 31,000 clubs with over 2 million players, including many girls and women.

National team

Main article: Germany national football team

The Germany national football team has played for international matches since 1908 and is managed by the German Football Association. They have won four FIFA World Cups and came second four times.

Main article: Germany women's national football team

The Germany women's national football team, also managed by the German Football Association, has won two FIFA Women's World Cups and eight UEFA Women's Championships. They were the first women's team to win a World Cup without letting any goals in.

Home stadiums

The national teams play in many stadiums throughout Germany. Popular cities for these games include Düsseldorf, Munich, Dortmund, and Berlin.

Men's honours

Main article: Germany national football team

Germany has been very successful in many big football competitions. In the FIFA World Cup, they have won four times and been runners-up four times. They have also finished third four times and fourth once.

In the UEFA European Championship, Germany has won three times, been runners-up three times, and finished third three times. In the Summer Olympic Games, they have won one gold medal, two silver medals, and three bronze medals, with one fourth-place finish.

Germany also won the FIFA Confederations Cup once and finished third once. In the UEFA Nations League, they finished fourth once.

Women's honours

Main article: Germany women's national football team

The German women's national football team has achieved great success in many major competitions. In the FIFA Women's World Cup, they have won twice, been runners-up once, and finished fourth twice. In the UEFA Women's Championship, they have won eight times, been runners-up once, and finished fourth once.

At the Summer Olympic Games, the team has won one gold medal and four bronze medals. In the UEFA Women's Nations League, they finished third once.

FIFA World Cup

The Germany national football team has won four FIFA World Cups and been the runner-up four other times. The team shows four stars on its jersey to celebrate these wins. Germany hosted the World Cup in 1974 and 2006.

The women's national team has won two FIFA Women's World Cups, shown by two stars on their jerseys. Germany also hosted the Women's World Cup in 2011.

FIFA World Cup 1954

The Wankdorf Stadion in Bern held 60,000 fans for the final between West Germany and Hungary. West Germany made some smart changes to their team before the match, and the weather turned rainy—perfect for their captain, Fritz Walter.

West Germany turned the game around with goals from Max Morlock and Helmut Rahn, winning 3–2. This amazing victory became known as the "Miracle of Bern."

FIFA World Cup 1974

The FIFA World Cup 1974 was held in West Germany. With great players like Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, Uli Hoeneß, and Gerd Müller, Germany won by beating the Netherlands 2–1. This was the first time the current World Cup trophy was given out.

FIFA World Cup 1990

Germany beat Argentina 1–0, winning their third World Cup. Team manager Franz Beckenbauer became the second player to win as both a player and a manager.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2003

Germany won the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, held in the United States, by beating Sweden 2–1 after extra time.

FIFA World Cup 2006

Germany hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The final was between Italy and France, ending in a 1–1 draw before Italy won on penalties. Germany beat Portugal to finish third, and Miroslav Klose was the top scorer.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2007

Germany won the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, beating Brazil 2–0 in the final.

FIFA World Cup 2010

Germany finished third again, scoring the most goals in the tournament. Thomas Müller won both the Golden Shoe and Best Young Player award.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2011

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in Germany. Germany won their group but lost to Japan in the quarterfinals.

FIFA World Cup 2014

Germany won the 2014 World Cup, beating Argentina 1–0 with a goal by Mario Götze. They also beat Brazil 7–1 in the semifinals, breaking many records.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2015

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in Canada. Germany advanced to the semifinals but lost to the United States. Célia Šašić shared the Golden Boot as top scorer.

UEFA European Championship

Germany has won the European Championship three times, in (/wiki/1972_UEFA_European_Football_Championship), (/wiki/1980_UEFA_European_Football_Championship), and (/wiki/UEFA_Euro_96). They also came in second place in 1976, 1992, and 2008.

In 1972, a young West German team won their first European Championship by defeating England, then beating Belgium and the Soviet Union in the finals held in Belgium.

In 1980, Germany won again by defeating Belgium in the final. This tournament marked the start of midfielder Lothar Matthäus's long career with the national team.

In 1996, after Germany reunited, the team won the European Championship again. They defeated the Czech Republic, Russia, and Italy, and then beat England in a penalty shootout to reach the final. In the final, Germany tied with the Czech Republic and won with a goal just five minutes into extra time.

In 2024, Germany hosted the European Championship in ten cities: Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart. The opening match was at the Allianz Arena in Munich, and the final was at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Football competitions

Bundesliga

Main article: Bundesliga

The top football league in Germany is the Bundesliga, which has 18 teams. Bayern Munich holds the record with 31 league titles since the league began in 1963. Hamburger SV was the only team to play in every Bundesliga season until 2018, when they were moved down to a lower league for the first time. Below the Bundesliga is the 2. Bundesliga. A lower league called the 3. Liga started in 2008.

German Cup

The German Cup, also called the DFB-Pokal, is a yearly tournament that began in 1952. It is the second most important title in German football after the Bundesliga. Teams from all levels of German football can join, with lower league teams competing in regional rounds to join the top teams. The final match has been held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin since 1985, and Bayern Munich has won it 20 times.

Before the current cup, there was the Tschammer-Pokal from 1934 to 1944. After World War II, Germany was divided, and East German teams had their own cup called the East German Cup from 1949 to 1991, until Germany reunited and the leagues merged.

Participation in European competition

Germany always has at least four spots in the UEFA Champions League, two in the UEFA Europa League, and one in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The top four Bundesliga teams go into the Champions League. The fifth-place team joins the Europa League, and the sixth-place team enters the Europa Conference League. The German Cup winner also joins the Europa League. If the Cup winner already qualified for the Champions League, the seventh-place Bundesliga team takes the Europa Conference League spot.

European competitions for clubs

Main articles: German football clubs in European competitions, FC Bayern Munich in international football, and Borussia Dortmund in international football

German football clubs have done very well in big international tournaments. They have won many important prizes, like the UEFA European Cups and Champions Leagues. In total, German clubs have won 27 big cups and played in 61 final matches, which puts them in fourth place overall.

Foreign players in Germany

Main article: Foreign football players in Germany

Many football teams in Germany have players from other countries. In 2009, about half of the players in the top league, the 1. Bundesliga, were from outside Germany. In the second league, the 2. Bundesliga, about one-third of the players were foreign. Even in the third league, the 3. Liga, some players came from other countries.

Football on TV

Football is very popular to watch on television in Germany. The biggest events, like the FIFA Men's World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup, attract many viewers.

German football stadiums

Stadiums with a capacity of 60,000 or higher are included.