FC Bayern’s 4-1 victory over VfL Osnabrück marked the official end of the first round of the DFB Cup. All 18 Bundesliga teams have advanced and qualified for the next round.
For the record-holding champions and record-holding cup winners from Munich, this was nothing more than a formality. After finally winning the cup again in 2026, they will naturally aim to defend it.
However, the road ahead could well prove to be a rocky one. As early as the next round, they could theoretically face any opponent—including an away game against a strong Bundesliga team.
FC Bayern: When the Cup Opponent Will Be Determined
The draw for the second round of the DFB Cup will take place on Saturday during the “Sportschau” program on ARD. The program will therefore begin at 5:45 p.m., shortly before the actual start of *Sportschau*. Bastian Schweinsteiger will serve as the draw master. As usual, the draw will take place at the Soccer Museum in Dortmund.
The former Bayern pro, whose heart still belongs to the club, will try to draw a very favorable matchup for Bayern. Of course, a home game is always desirable in the Cup. In addition to all the Bundesliga rivals, an unexpected team has also found its way into the draw: SSV Jeddeloh II, which knocked Heidenheim out of the Cup.
What’s changing this year in the second round: For the first time in the history of the DFB Cup, the video assistant referee will be used as early as this round. Until now, that hadn’t been the case until the round of 16. The change has been widely welcomed; especially in knockout matches, this additional layer of oversight is highly desired by many clubs.
The second main round will be played on October 27 and 28 of this year. This will be followed by the round of 16 on December 1 and 2, before the tournament continues in the new year—specifically in February—with the quarterfinal matches. Bayern’s ultimate goal, of course, is the final on May 29 in Berlin.
