Germany hands Frauen-Bundesliga commercial control from 2027 in landmark shift | OneFootball

Germany has approved a landmark shift. From 2027-28 the Frauen-Bundesliga will run its own commercial affairs, stepping out from direct DFB control.

According to BuLi News, clubs have backed a seven-year framework creating the Frauen-Bundesliga (FBL), which will lease rights from the DFB and oversee media, sponsorship and operations.

Despite eight European titles and two World Cups, and clubs such as Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt, the league has lagged commercially behind England's WSL and Spain's Liga F.

Germany is joining a wider shift. Spain launched Liga F as an independent competition in 2022, and England has moved the WSL into independent ownership.

Responsibilities split clearly. The DFB keeps national teams, the DFB-Pokal Frauen, refereeing, grassroots and youth development, while the league builds the Bundesliga brand.

The first test is TV. The FBL must secure a new domestic deal before current agreements with Deutsche Telekom, ARD and ZDF end after 2026-27, said to be worth just over €6 million a year. A clear uplift would support the change, weaker terms would prompt doubts.

The platform is in place. Attendances are rising, the division grew to 14 teams last season with Union Berlin joining the top flight, and leading clubs remain strong in Europe. Autonomy brings accountability, with two years of preparation before the league stands on its own.

Source: BuLi News