Pokal

Pokal

The DFB-Pokal ( ) or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. Sixty‑four teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga championship. The DFB-Pokal is run by the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (English: German Football Association). The competition runs from August till June. The winner qualifies for the DFL-Supercup and the UEFA Europa League unless the winner already qualifies for the UEFA Champions League.

The competition was founded in 1935, then called Tschammer-Pokal. The first titleholder were 1. FC Nuremberg. In 1937 Schalke were the first team to win the double. The Tschammer-Pokal was suspended in 1945 due to World War II and disbanded following the demise of Nazi Germany. In 1952–53, the cup was reinstated as the DFB-Pokal, named after the Deutscher Fußball-Bund and was won by Rot-Weiss Essen. Bayern Munich have won the most titles, with 16 wins and being the most recent winner.

Read more about Pokal:  Format, International Qualification, Tschammerpokal, Giant Killing, Records, East German Cup (1949–91), Women's German Cup, Media Coverage