Draw for first round of DFB-Pokal completed

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SV Werder Bremen

·15 June 2025

Draw for first round of DFB-Pokal completed

Werder were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Bielefeld last season after a 2-1 defeat (Photo: W.DE).

Werder to face last season's finalists Arminia Bielefeld

SV Werder Bremen will open the 2025/26 competitive season away against Arminia Bielefeld in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. The draw was conducted on Sunday (15th June) at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, and pits the Green-Whites against last season's finalists.

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The draw was conducted by German sprinter Owen Ansah, alongside DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth. The first round of matches will be played on the weekend of 15th to 18th August, with the exact dates and times still to be announced. FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart will only play their respective first-round matches on 26th or 27th August, due to taking part in the Franz-Beckenbauer-Cup (formerly the Supercup) on 16th August.

Reaction to the draw:

The match is set to be Horst Steffen's first competitive fixture as head coach of SV Werder (Photo: W.DE).

Head coach Horst Steffen: "Bielefeld are definitely one of the toughest draws we could have gotten. But, we will give everything we have and prepare well in order to advance to the next round."

Head of professional football Peter Niemeyer: "Arminia are a strong opponent. We will need to prepare well in order to be ready for the start of the competitive season. In recent years we've seen how tough it can be to play away in Bielefeld, but as the Bundesliga side, our aim is to progress to the next round."

Captain Marco Friedl: "It's a tough opponent to face in the first round. The fact that they reached the final last season speaks volumes for Bielefeld. They are particularly strong at home. They're also on a good run at the minute, having also been promoted. We definitely have a score to settle with them still, which is why we'll give it everything we have. We'll definitely still be the favourites, but will need to be on our toes."