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DFB Cup final in Berlin: a success story

The DFB Cup final will once again be held in Berlin's Olympic Stadium in May 2026. The final signatures for this have been in the bag as of today (see article). The popular battle cry "Berlin, Berlin, we're going to Berlin" will therefore not change for the time being. For a long time, it was not a matter of course that the two most successful teams in the competition would end up in Berlin.

The start of a tradition

In 1952, a national cup competition was launched again for the first time after the end of the Second World War. The competition, then known as the "DFB-Vereinspokal", found its first title winner in Rot-Weiß Essen. Blau Weiß 90 and Wacker 04 Berlin had failed in the first round at the time, and the cup was lifted by the Essen team in Düsseldorf's Rheinstadion. The final venues were subsequently changed from year to year. Berlin was initially never considered, having hosted the final six times in the previous competition, the "Tschammerpokal".

This was to change fundamentally in 1985. Together with the Senate, the BFV, under the leadership of its president Uwe Hammer, lobbied the DFB for a long time for the final to be held in West Berlin. The award to the exclave of the Federal Republic of Germany was to have a highly symbolic function. However, due to the situation in divided Germany, West Berlin's suitability to host the final was questioned for a long time and it was feared that many fans would stay away. However, the persistent work and persuasiveness of Uwe Hammer and his fellow campaigners paid off: Berlin was chosen as the new venue for the DFB Cup final from 1985, initially for five years.

The original fears were not to come true and a glittering soccer festival was celebrated in Berlin on May 26, 1985 in front of over 70,000 spectators. Bayer 05 Uerdingen beat FC Bayern Munich 2:1 and the foundations were laid for more than 41 further years of DFB Cup finals in Berlin. Until 2009, the women's DFB Cup final was always held in the Olympic Stadium before the men's final until it was moved to Cologne. The first women's team to win in Berlin was FSV Frankfurt.

The photo shows three footballers at the center of the action. Two of them are wearing red jerseys, while the third player is wearing a white jersey with blue and red accents. The scene looks very dynamic: the player in the white jersey stands between the two players in red. All three are moving close together, apparently fighting for the ball or for a good position during the game. Their postures show tension and strength - arms outstretched, shoulders against shoulders, legs tense. The player on the left in the red jersey is wearing a yellow captain's armband. The player on the right in the red jersey looks as if he is trying to physically block the player in the white jersey. Other players and the large, blurred stadium with many spectators can be seen in the background. The atmosphere is intense and competitive, typical of an important soccer match.
In 1993, Hertha BSC Amateure were the first Berlin team to play the final at home. Photo: Getty Images / Bongarts

Berlin's longing for the final

Since 1985, the desire of all Berlin soccer fans to be able to play the final with their club in their own city has of course been huge. In 2001, 1. FC Union succeeded once. As a regional league team, the "Eisern" entered the final, where they were beaten 2-0 by FC Schalke 04 on a memorable day. The Hertha BSC amateurs' run to the final will also remain unforgotten. The second Hertha team fought their way to the final in 1993. There, the "Hertha-Bubis" were ultimately defeated by Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0:1. Meanwhile, the professional Hertha team has two finals to its name, in 1977 and 1979. The "Old Lady" will have the chance to reach their first final in Berlin this year: they will host SC Freiburg in the quarter-finals on February 10, 2026.

1. FC Union Berlin reached the DFB Cup final in 2001. Photo: Getty Images / Sandra Behne

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