# German Football Association

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Governing body of association football in Germany

For other uses, see [DFB (disambiguation)](/source/DFB_(disambiguation)).

German Football Association UEFA Short name DFB Founded 28 January 1900; 126 years ago (1900-01-28) in Leipzig Headquarters Frankfurt FIFA affiliation 1904 UEFA affiliation 1954 President Bernd Neuendorf Website dfb.de

The **German Football Association** ([German](/source/German_language): *Deutscher Fußball-Bund* [\[ˈdɔʏtʃɐ ˈfuːsbalˌbʊnt\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German); **DFB** [\[ˌdeːʔɛfˈbeː\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De-DFB.ogg)) is the governing body of [football](/source/Association_football), [futsal](/source/Futsal), and [beach soccer](/source/Beach_soccer) in [Germany](/source/Germany). A founding member of both [FIFA](/source/FIFA) and [UEFA](/source/UEFA), the DFB has jurisdiction for the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system) and is in charge of the [men's](/source/Germany_national_football_team) and [women's](/source/Germany_women's_national_football_team) national teams. The DFB headquarters are in [Frankfurt am Main](/source/Frankfurt). Sole members of the DFB are the [German Football League](/source/Deutsche_Fu%C3%9Fball_Liga) ([German](/source/German_language): *Deutsche Fußball Liga*; **DFL**), organising the professional [Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga) and the [2. Bundesliga](/source/2._Bundesliga), along with five regional and 21 state associations, organising the semi-professional and amateur levels. The 21 state associations of the DFB have a combined number of 23,868 clubs with little more than 8 million members, making the DFB the single largest sports federation in the world.

## History

Logo 1900 to 1926

Commemorative plaque in Leipzig where the DFB was founded in 1900.

Logo 1926 to 1995

Logo 1995 to 2003

Logo 2003 to 2008

Logo 2008 to 2016

Logo 2016 to 2025

Logo since 2025

### 1875 to 1900

From 1875 to the mid-1880s, the first kind of football played in Germany was according to [rugby](/source/Rugby_football) rules. Later, [association-style football](/source/Association_football) teams formed separate clubs, and since 1890, they began to organise on regional and national levels.

### 1900 to 1933

The DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) was founded on 28 January 1900 in [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig) by representatives of [86 clubs](/source/Founding_Clubs_of_the_DFB). The vote held to establish the association was 62:22 in favour (84 votes). Some delegates present represented more than one club, but may have voted only once. Other delegates present did not carry their club's authority to cast a ballot. [Ferdinand Hueppe](/source/Ferdinand_Hueppe), the representative of DFC Prague, was named its first president.[1] The DFB consolidated the large number of state-based German regional competitions in play for a single recognized national title for the season 1902/03. Germans were not present in Paris when FIFA was founded by seven nations in May 1904, but by the time the FIFA statutes came into effect on 1 September, Germany had also joined by telegram as the eighth nation. The [German national team](/source/Germany_national_football_team) played its first game in 1908.

Before 1914, the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire) was much larger than today's Germany, comprising [Alsace-Lorraine](/source/Alsace-Lorraine) and the [eastern provinces](/source/Former_eastern_territories_of_Germany). The borders of the regional associations were drawn according to suitable railway connections. Also, teams based in [Bohemia](/source/Bohemia), then part of [Austria-Hungary](/source/Austria-Hungary), were eligible, as they were German Football clubs and thus considered German. Thus, a German team from [Prague](/source/Prague) was runner-up in the German championship. On the other hand, clubs of the [Danish](/source/Denmark) minority in [Northern Schleswig](/source/Province_of_Schleswig-Holstein) refused to join the DFB. This area after World War I voted to join Denmark. Due to border changes imposed by the [Treaty of Versailles](/source/Treaty_of_Versailles), the DFB had to adapt its structure. The [Saarland](/source/Saarland), [Danzig](/source/Free_State_of_Danzig), and the [Memelland](/source/Klaip%C4%97da_Region) were detached from Germany and [East Prussia](/source/East_Prussia) was cut off from the main part by the [Polish Corridor](/source/Polish_Corridor).

### 1933 to 1945

The role of DFB and its representatives like [Felix Linnemann](/source/Felix_Linnemann) under [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany) was documented in *100 Jahre DFB* and by Nils Havemann in *Fußball unterm Hakenkreuz*.[2] According to *[Gleichschaltung](/source/Gleichschaltung)* policy, the DFB, with its large membership from all political sides, and strong regional structures compared to weak national ones, submitted to new rulers and new [Gau](/source/Gau_(country_subdivision)) structures. On a short general meeting on 9 July 1933 in Berlin, the DFB did so, at least formally.

Later, the [Hitler salute](/source/Hitler_salute) was made compulsory; [Marxists](/source/Marxism) and [Jews](/source/Jews) were expelled. The records of [German Jews](/source/German_Jews) were erased from the DFB's records, such as those of [Gottfried Fuchs](/source/Gottfried_Fuchs) who had scored a world record ten goals for Germany in a 16–0 win against [Russia](/source/Russia_national_football_team) at the [1912 Summer Olympics](/source/Football_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics) in Stockholm, becoming the top scorer of the tournament and setting an international record.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] When, in 1972, German former player and national team coach [Sepp Herberger](/source/Sepp_Herberger) asked the German Football Association vice president [Hermann Neuberger](/source/Hermann_Neuberger) to invite Fuchs as a guest or a guest of honour to an international against Russia on the 60th anniversary of Fuchs' performance for the German team, the DFB Executive Committee declined to do so, writing that it was not willing to invite Fuchs because it would have created an unfortunate precedent (as was pointed out, given that Fuchs was the last remaining former Jewish German international, the DFB's concern about creating a precedent was a difficult one to understand).[9][10] As of 2016, Fuchs was still the top German scorer for one match.[7]

A new organization, [Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen](/source/National_Socialist_League_of_the_Reich_for_Physical_Exercise) (German Reich League for Physical Exercise), was established and Linnemann was appointed leader of its *Fachamt Fußball* (Football section), which took over the operational affairs, whereas the DFB lost most of its duties until it was formally dissolved in 1940.

On the pitch, Germany had done well in 1934, but after a 0–2 loss to Norway in the quarter finals of the [1936 Summer Olympics](/source/1936_Summer_Olympics), with [Adolf Hitler](/source/Adolf_Hitler) attending, the DFB and football fell from grace. *Reichsjugendführer* [Baldur von Schirach](/source/Baldur_von_Schirach) and the [Hitler Youth](/source/Hitler_Youth) took over youth football (under 16) from the clubs following a deal with *Reichssportführer* [Hans von Tschammer und Osten](/source/Hans_von_Tschammer_und_Osten), who had been in charge of all sports in Germany since 1933, making DFB officials even more powerless. Germany had made a bid to host the [1938 World Cup](/source/1938_FIFA_World_Cup), but it was withdrawn without comment.

Following the [Anschluss](/source/Anschluss) in March 1938 that made [Austria](/source/Austria) part of Germany, the [Austrian Football Association](/source/Austrian_Football_Association) became part of the German federation. New coach [Sepp Herberger](/source/Sepp_Herberger) was told on short notice to use also Austrian players in his team, which was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup, weakening the situation of football within the Nazi politics to near meaninglessness. Four Germans (Hans Jakob, [Albin Kitzinger](/source/Albin_Kitzinger), Ludwig Goldbrunner, and Ernst Lehner) represented West Europe in a FIFA friendly on 20 June 1937 in [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam), and another two (Kitzinger again and [Anderl Kupfer](/source/Anderl_Kupfer)) represented a FIFA continental team on 26 October 1938 in [London](/source/London), England. During the war, Germany played international games until 1942.

### 1945 to 1963

In the aftermath of [World War II](/source/World_War_II), German organisations were disbanded by the allies. [FIFA](/source/FIFA) decided in November 1945 to ban the no longer existing DFB (and [Japan](/source/Japan)'s [football association](/source/Japan_Football_Association)) from international competition, while the Austrian association was re-founded. Internationally, Germans were still represented, with [Zürich](/source/Z%C3%BCrich)-based [Ivo Schricker](/source/Ivo_Schricker) serving as General Secretary of FIFA from 1932 to December 1950. In 1948, Switzerland requested FIFA to lift the ban on games against Germans, but this was denied. Swiss clubs played German clubs anyway, but had to cease doing so due to international protests. This was only changed in 1949 when [The Football Association](/source/The_Football_Association) requested FIFA to lift the ban on club games. FIFA did so on 7 May 1949, two weeks before the [Federal Republic of Germany](/source/West_Germany) was founded, thus games required permission by the military governments of the time. Due to partition into several occupation zones, and states, the DFB was legally re-founded in [Stuttgart](/source/Stuttgart) on 21 January 1950 only by the West German regional associations, without the [Saarland Football Association](/source/Saarland_Football_Association) in the [French occupied Saarland](/source/Saar_Protectorate), which on 12 June 1950 would be recognized by FIFA as the first of three German FAs after the war. At the FIFA congress held on 22 June prior to the [1950 FIFA World Cup](/source/1950_FIFA_World_Cup) in Brazil, the [Swiss Football Association](/source/Swiss_Football_Association) requested that the DFB be reinstated with full FIFA membership, which was granted on 22 September 1950[11] in Brussels. Thus, Germany was excluded from the [1950 FIFA World Cup](/source/1950_FIFA_World_Cup) and could resume international games only in late 1950.

In the early years of the [division of Germany](/source/History_of_Germany_(1945%E2%80%9390)), West Germany claimed [exclusive mandate](/source/Exclusive_mandate) of all of Germany. Unlike the [IOC](/source/International_Olympic_Committee), which granted only provisional recognition to the East Germans in 1955, demanding they participate in an All-German Olympic team ([United Team of Germany](/source/United_Team_of_Germany)), FIFA fully recognized the [East German Football Association](/source/East_German_Football_Association) in 1952. Winning the [1954 World Cup](/source/1954_FIFA_World_Cup) was a major success for the DFB, and the popularity of the sport in Germany.

The teams of the DFB and the Saarland played against one another in the [qualifiers for the 1954 World Cup](/source/1954_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_Group_1) before the Saarland and its FA were permitted to rejoin Germany and the DFB in 1956.

### 1963 to present

Due to that success, and due to regional associations fearing loss of influence, the old amateur structure, in which five regional leagues formed the top level, remained in effect longer than in many other countries, even though a *[Reichsliga](/source/Reichsliga)* had been proposed decades ago. Also, professionalism was rejected, and players who played abroad were considered "mercenaries" and not capped. The conservative attitude changed only after disappointing results in the [1962 FIFA World Cup](/source/1962_FIFA_World_Cup) when officials like the 75-year-old [Peco Bauwens](/source/Peco_Bauwens) retired. According to the proposals of Hermann Neuberger, the DFB finally introduced a single nationwide professional league, the Bundesliga, for the 1963–64 season.

The DFB has hosted the World Cup in [1974](/source/1974_FIFA_World_Cup) and [2006](/source/2006_FIFA_World_Cup). Germany also hosted the European Championship in [1988](/source/UEFA_Euro_1988) as well as in [2024](/source/UEFA_Euro_2024). Upon reunification in 1990, the East German [Deutscher Fußball-Verband der DDR](/source/Deutscher_Fu%C3%9Fball-Verband_der_DDR) (DFV) was absorbed into the DFB along its honours.

The national team won the World Cup for a second time in 1974, a third time in [1990](/source/1990_FIFA_World_Cup), and a fourth in the [2014 FIFA World Cup](/source/2014_FIFA_World_Cup). Also, they were crowned European champions three times, in 1972, in 1980 and in 1996. On top, the *Mannschaft* were runners-up in the 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002 World Cups and in 1976, 1992 and 2008 European Championships, making it the second-most successful national team in the world as well as the most successful national team in Europe.

The DFB has also overseen the rise of Germany as a world power in [women's football](/source/Women's_association_football). The [national team](/source/Germany_women's_national_football_team) has won [World Cups](/source/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup) in [2003](/source/2003_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup) and [2007](/source/2007_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup)—the latter without conceding a goal in the final tournament, making them the only World Cup champions for men or women to do so. Furthermore, the women's national team's victory in 2003 made Germany the only nation to have won both the Men's and Women's World Cups, until [Spain](/source/Royal_Spanish_Football_Federation) achieved the same milestone in [2023](/source/2023_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup).[12] They have also won eight [UEFA Women's Championships](/source/UEFA_Women's_Championship), including the last six in succession.

In 1990, mere months before reunification became official, the DFB founded the [women's Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga_(women)) (*Frauen-Bundesliga*), directly modelled after the men's Bundesliga. Initially, it was played in north and south divisions but became a single league in 1997. Bundesliga teams have enjoyed more success in the [UEFA Women's Champions League](/source/UEFA_Women's_Champions_League) than those from any other nation; four different clubs have won a total of nine titles, with the most recent being [2015 champions](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_UEFA_Women's_Champions_League) [1. FFC Frankfurt](/source/1._FFC_Frankfurt), now known as Eintracht Frankfurt.

Since 2005, in memory of former German-Jewish Olympian international footballer [Julius Hirsch](/source/Julius_Hirsch) who was killed in [Auschwitz concentration camp](/source/Auschwitz_concentration_camp) during [the Holocaust](/source/The_Holocaust), the German Football Federation awards the "[Julius-Hirsch-Preis](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius-Hirsch-Preis)" for outstanding examples of integration and tolerance within German football.[13][14]

In 2020, a poll found that the unpopularity of the DFB was caused by increasing commercialization, among other reasons.[15] An academic panel study in 2023 similarly found that the DFB had become deeply unpopular among important figures in German football, who cited reasons such as a lack of transparency, poor communication and distance from fans, and a lack of open reflection on mistakes.[16] In 2025, its 125 year anniversary, the DFB reached more than eight million memberships.[17]

## Competitions

Men Bundesliga (run by the DFL, a DFB subsidiary) 2. Bundesliga (run by the DFL, a DFB subsidiary) DFB-Pokal 3. Liga U19 & U17 Nachwuchsliga (former Junioren-Bundesliga) DFB-Ü-Männer-Cups Over 32 Over 40 Over 50 DFB-Pokal der Junioren (German U19 Cup) Futsal-Bundesliga German Futsal Youth Championships Under 19 Under 17 Under 15 German Beach Soccer League German Beach Soccer Championship German Beach Soccer Tour DFB-ePokal Women Frauen-Bundesliga 2. Frauen-Bundesliga DFB-Pokal DFB-Supercup German Women's Futsal Championship German Women's Youth Futsal Championship DFB-Pokal der B-Juniorinnen (German U17 Cup) DFB-Ü 32-Frauen-Cup

## Structure

### Members

Direct members of the DFB are only its five regional associations and its 21 state associations, along with the [German Football League](/source/Deutsche_Fu%C3%9Fball_Liga), whereas the clubs participating in the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system) are members of the state associations covering their district. Today, more than 25,000 clubs are organised in those state associations, fielding nearly 170,000 teams with over two million active players and totalling over six million members, the largest membership of any single sports federation in the world. The Association governs 870,000 male members and 8,600 female teams.

### Regional and state associations

DFB, its five regional and 21 state associations

100 year commemorative stamp from 2000

The DFB is organised into five regional associations, which themselves are sub-divided into 21 state associations. These associations typically have their boundaries run along the borders of the German [states](/source/States_of_Germany), with the exception of some states ([North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia), [Rhineland-Palatinate](/source/Rhineland-Palatinate), and [Baden-Württemberg](/source/Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg)) having up to three state associations covering different areas of such state.

#### Southern Germany

The [Southern German Football Association](/source/Southern_German_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Süddeutscher Fußball-Verband;* *SFV*) covers the states of [Baden-Württemberg](/source/Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg), [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria) and [Hesse](/source/Hesse). The *SFV*, formed on 17 October 1897 under the name of *Verband Süddeutscher Fußball-Vereine*, originally administered the [Southern German football championship](/source/Southern_German_football_championship), until it was dissolved by the Nazis in 1933. Reformed in the [American](/source/United_States) occupation zone after the Second World War, it operated the [Oberliga Süd](/source/Oberliga_S%C3%BCd), the regional division of the former top level German [Oberliga](/source/Oberliga_(football)) until the introduction of the [Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga) in 1963. Since the 2012–13 season, the *SFV*, except its member Bavarian FA, along with the *Football Association of the Southwest* is in charge of the [Regionalliga Südwest](/source/Regionalliga_S%C3%BCdwest), a step 4 division in the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system). The *SFV* itself is formed by the following state associations:[18]

- [Baden Football Association](/source/Baden_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Badischer Fußball-Verband;* *BFV*)

- [Bavarian Football Association](/source/Bavarian_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Bayerischer Fußball-Verband;* *BFV*)

- [Hessian Football Association](/source/Hessian_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Hessischer Fußball-Verband;* *HFV*)

- [South Baden Football Association](/source/South_Baden_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Südbadischer Fußball-Verband;* *SBFV*)

- [Württemberg Football Association](/source/W%C3%BCrttemberg_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Württembergischer Fußball-Verband;* *WFV*)

#### Southwestern Germany

The [Southwestern Regional Football Association](/source/Southwestern_Regional_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußball-Regional-Verband Südwest;* *FRVS*) covers the states [Rhineland-Palatinate](/source/Rhineland-Palatinate) and [Saarland](/source/Saarland) and was formed after the Second World War in the [French](/source/France) occupation zone in Germany. Its highest league until the introduction of the [Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga) in 1963 was the [Oberliga Südwest](/source/Oberliga_S%C3%BCdwest_(1945-63)), the regional division of the former top level German [Oberliga](/source/Oberliga_(football)). Since the 2012–13 season, the *FRVS*, along with the *Southern German football association* is in charge of [Regionalliga Südwest](/source/Regionalliga_S%C3%BCdwest), a step 4 division in the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system). Additionally, the *FRVS* administers the [Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar](/source/Oberliga_Rheinland-Pfalz%2FSaar), a step 5 division. The *FRVS* itself is formed by the following state associations:[19]

- [Rhineland Football Association](/source/Rhineland_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußball-Verband Rheinland;* *FVR*)

- [Saarland Football Association](/source/Saarland_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Saarländischer Fußball-Verband;* *SFV*)

- [Southwest German Football Association](/source/Southwest_German_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Südwestdeutscher Fußball-Verband;* *SWFV*)

#### Western Germany

The [Western German Football Association](/source/Western_German_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Westdeutscher Fußballverband;* *WDFV*) covers the state of [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia). The association was known as *WFLV* from 2002 to 2016 and used to administer the [Western German football championship](/source/Western_German_football_championship) until 1933. From 1947 to 1963, its highest league was the [Oberliga West](/source/Oberliga_West), the regional division of the former top level German [Oberliga](/source/Oberliga_(football)). Since the 2008–09 season, the *WDFV* is in charge of the [Regionalliga West](/source/Regionalliga_West), a step 4 division in the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system). The *WDFV* itself is formed by the following state associations:[20]

- [Middle Rhine Football Association](/source/Middle_Rhine_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußballverband Mittelrhein;* *FVM*)

- [Lower Rhine Football Association](/source/Lower_Rhine_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußballverband Niederrhein;* *FVN*)

- [Westphalia Football and Athletics Association](/source/Westphalia_Football_and_Athletics_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußball- und Leichtathletikverband Westfalen;* *FLVW*)

#### Northern Germany

The [Northern German Football Association](/source/Northern_German_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Norddeutscher Fußball-Verband;* *NFV*) covers the states of [Bremen](/source/Bremen), [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony) and [Schleswig-Holstein](/source/Schleswig-Holstein). The association used to administer the [Northern German football championship](/source/Northern_German_football_championship) until 1933. From 1947 to 1963, its highest league was the [Oberliga Nord](/source/Oberliga_Nord_(1947-63)), the regional division of the former top level German [Oberliga](/source/Oberliga_(football)). Since the 1994–95 season, the *NFV* is in charge of the [Regionalliga Nord](/source/Regionalliga_Nord), a step 4 division in the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system). The *NFV* itself is formed by the following state associations:[21]

- [Bremen Football Association](/source/Bremen_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Bremer Fußball-Verband;* *BFV*)

- [Hamburg Football Association](/source/Hamburg_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Hamburger Fußball-Verband;* *HFV*)

- [Lower Saxony Football Association](/source/Lower_Saxony_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Niedersächsischer Fußball-Verband;* *NFV*)

- [Schleswig-Holstein Football Association](/source/Schleswig-Holstein_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Schleswig-Holsteinischer Fußball-Verband;* *SHFV*)

#### Northeastern Germany

The [Northeastern German Football Association](/source/Northeastern_German_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Nordostdeutscher Fußball-Verband;* *NOFV*) covers the states of [Berlin](/source/Berlin), [Brandenburg](/source/Brandenburg), [Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania](/source/Mecklenburg-Western_Pomerania), [Saxony](/source/Saxony), [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt) and [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia). The association is the youngest of the five regional associations, having been formed after German reunification in 1990 as a successor of the disbanded *German Football Association of the [GDR](/source/East_Germany)*. Since the 2012–13 season and previously from 1994 to 2000, the *NOFV* administers the [Regionalliga Nordost](/source/Regionalliga_Nordost), a step 4 division in the [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system), and the step 5 [Oberliga Nordost](/source/NOFV-Oberliga). The *NOFV* itself is formed by the following state associations:[22]

- [Brandenburg Football Association](/source/Brandenburg_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußball-Landesverband Brandenburg;* *FLB*)

- [Berlin Football Association](/source/Berlin_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Berliner Fußball-Verband;* *BFV*)

- [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Football Association](/source/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern_State_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Landesfußball-Verband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern;* *LFVM*)

- [Saxony Football Association](/source/Saxony_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Sächsischer Fußball-Verband;* *SFV*)

- [Saxony-Anhalt Football Association](/source/Saxony-Anhalt_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Fußball-Verband Sachsen-Anhalt;* *FSA*)

- [Thuringian Football Association](/source/Thuringian_Football_Association) ([German](/source/German_language): *Thüringer Fußball-Verband;* *TFV*)

### Presidents

President [Bernd Neuendorf](/source/Bernd_Neuendorf), in charge since 2022

- [Ferdinand Hueppe](/source/Ferdinand_Hueppe) (1900–1904)

- [Friedrich Wilhelm Nohe](/source/Friedrich_Wilhelm_Nohe) (1904–1905)

- [Gottfried Hinze](/source/Gottfried_Hinze) (1905–1925)

- [Felix Linnemann](/source/Felix_Linnemann) (1925–1940)

- [Peco Bauwens](/source/Peco_Bauwens) (1950–1962)

- [Hermann Gösmann](/source/Hermann_G%C3%B6smann) (1962–1975)

- [Hermann Neuberger](/source/Hermann_Neuberger) (1975–1992, died in office)

- [Egidius Braun](/source/Egidius_Braun) (1992–2001)

- [Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder](/source/Gerhard_Mayer-Vorfelder) (2001–2004)

- [Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder](/source/Gerhard_Mayer-Vorfelder) and [Theo Zwanziger](/source/Theo_Zwanziger) (2004–2006)

- [Theo Zwanziger](/source/Theo_Zwanziger) (2006–2012)

- [Wolfgang Niersbach](/source/Wolfgang_Niersbach) (2012–2015)

- *Acting*: [Rainer Koch](/source/Rainer_Koch) and [Reinhard Rauball](/source/Reinhard_Rauball) (2015–2016)

- [Reinhard Grindel](/source/Reinhard_Grindel) (2016–2019)

- *Acting*: [Rainer Koch](/source/Rainer_Koch) and [Reinhard Rauball](/source/Reinhard_Rauball) (2019)

- [Fritz Keller](/source/Fritz_Keller_(football_administrator)) (2019–2021)

- *Acting*: [Rainer Koch](/source/Rainer_Koch) and [Peter Peters](/source/Peter_Peters_(football_official)) (2021–2022)

- [Bernd Neuendorf](/source/Bernd_Neuendorf) (2022–present)

### Administration

DFB Administration is located in [Frankfurt (Main)](/source/Frankfurt_(Main)). It is headed by Secretary General [Friedrich Curtius](/source/Friedrich_Curtius) and managing directors Heike Ullrich (Deputy Secretary General), [Oliver Bierhoff](/source/Oliver_Bierhoff) and Markus Holzherr.

## Men's Honours

Main article: [Germany national football team](/source/Germany_national_football_team)

### Major competitions

**[FIFA World Cup](/source/FIFA_World_Cup)**

- **Champions (4)**: [1954](/source/1954_FIFA_World_Cup), [1974](/source/1974_FIFA_World_Cup), [1990](/source/1990_FIFA_World_Cup), [2014](/source/2014_FIFA_World_Cup)

- Runners-Up (4): [1966](/source/1966_FIFA_World_Cup), [1982](/source/1982_FIFA_World_Cup), [1986](/source/1986_FIFA_World_Cup), [2002](/source/2002_FIFA_World_Cup)

- Third Place (4): [1934](/source/1934_FIFA_World_Cup), [1970](/source/1970_FIFA_World_Cup), [2006](/source/2006_FIFA_World_Cup), [2010](/source/2010_FIFA_World_Cup)

- Fourth Place (1): [1958](/source/1958_FIFA_World_Cup)

**[UEFA European Championship](/source/UEFA_European_Championship)**

- **Champions (3)**: [1972](/source/UEFA_Euro_1972), [1980](/source/UEFA_Euro_1980), [1996](/source/UEFA_Euro_1996)

- Runners-Up (3): [1976](/source/UEFA_Euro_1976), [1992](/source/UEFA_Euro_1992), [2008](/source/UEFA_Euro_2008)

- Third Place (3): [1988](/source/UEFA_Euro_1988), [2012](/source/UEFA_Euro_2012), [2016](/source/UEFA_Euro_2016)

**[Summer Olympic Games](/source/Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics)**

- **Gold Medal (1)**: [1976](/source/Football_at_the_1976_Summer_Olympics)

- Silver Medal (2): [1980](/source/Football_at_the_1980_Summer_Olympics), [2016](/source/Football_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics)

- Bronze Medal (3): [1964](/source/Football_at_the_1964_Summer_Olympics), [1972](/source/Football_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics), [1988](/source/Football_at_the_1988_Summer_Olympics)

- Fourth Place (1): [1952](/source/Football_at_the_1952_Summer_Olympics)

**[FIFA Confederations Cup](/source/FIFA_Confederations_Cup)**

- **Champions (1)**: [2017](/source/2017_FIFA_Confederations_Cup)

- Third Place (1): [2005](/source/2005_FIFA_Confederations_Cup)

**[UEFA Nations League](/source/UEFA_Nations_League)**

- Fourth Place (1): [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_UEFA_Nations_League)

Overview Event 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place FIFA World Cup 4 4 4 1 UEFA European Championship 3 3 3 0 Summer Olympic Games 1 2 3 1 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 0 1 0 UEFA Nations League 0 0 0 1 Total 9 9 11 3

## Women's Honours

Main article: [Germany women's national football team](/source/Germany_women's_national_football_team)

### Major competitions

**[FIFA Women's World Cup](/source/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup)**

- **Champions (2)**: [2003](/source/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup_2003), [2007](/source/2007_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup)

- Runners-Up (1): [1995](/source/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup_1995)

- Fourth Place (2): [1991](/source/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup_1991), [2015](/source/2015_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup)

**[UEFA Women's European Championship](/source/UEFA_Women's_Championship)**

- **Champions (8)**: [1989](/source/1989_UEFA_Women's_Championship), [1991](/source/1991_UEFA_Women's_Championship), [1995](/source/1995_UEFA_Women's_Championship), [1997](/source/1997_UEFA_Women's_Championship), [2001](/source/2001_UEFA_Women's_Championship), [2005](/source/UEFA_Women's_Euro_2005), [2009](/source/UEFA_Women's_Euro_2009), [2013](/source/UEFA_Women's_Euro_2013)

- Runners-Up (1): [2022](/source/UEFA_Women's_Euro_2022)

- Fourth Place (1): [1993](/source/1993_UEFA_Women's_Championship)

**[Summer Olympic Games](/source/Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics)**

- **Gold Medal (1)**: [2016](/source/Football_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics)

- Bronze Medal (4): [2000](/source/Football_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics), [2004](/source/Football_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics), [2008](/source/Football_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics), [2024](/source/Football_at_the_2024_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)

**[UEFA Women's Nations League](/source/UEFA_Women's_Nations_League)**

- Third Place (1): [2024](/source/2024_UEFA_Women's_Nations_League_Finals)

Overview Event 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place FIFA Women's World Cup 2 1 0 2 UEFA Women's European Championship 8 1 0 1 Summer Olympic Games 1 0 4 0 UEFA Women's Nations League 0 0 1 0 Total 11 2 5 3

## DFB Mascot

Mascot Paule (2019)

The official [mascot](/source/Mascot) is an [eagle](/source/Eagle) with black feathers and a yellow beak called *"Paule"* (since 26 March 2006).

## DFB Play

DFB Play Type of site OTT streaming platform Available in English Headquarters Frankfurt , Germany Country of origin Germany Area served Germany Owner DFB URL dfbplay.tv Registration Required Launched 2023 Current status Active

DFB Play is a free Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platform created by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V.) that provides live coverage, highlights, and on-demand content for the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) and other German football competitions

### Completions

- [DFB-Pokal](/source/DFB-Pokal)

- [3. Liga](/source/3._Liga)

- [Frauen-Bundesliga](/source/Frauen-Bundesliga)

- [DFB-Pokal Frauen](/source/DFB-Pokal_Frauen)

## See also

- [German football league system](/source/German_football_league_system)

- [German Football Museum](/source/German_Football_Museum)

- [History of German football](/source/History_of_German_football)

- [DFB Sports Court](/source/DFB_Sports_Court)

- [DFB-Bundestag](/source/DFB-Bundestag)

- [Permanent Arbitration Court](/source/Permanent_Arbitration_Court)

## Notes

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["From Leipzig to Paris – the story of how the DFB became the first association to join FIFA"](https://www.fifamuseum.com/en/blog-stories/blog/from-leipzig-to-paris-the-story-of-how-the-dfb-became-the-first-associ-2621952/). *Museum Blog*. FIFA World Football Museum. 28 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Havemann, Nils (2006). *Fußball unterm Hakenkreuz. Der DFB zwischen Sport, Politik und Kommerz*. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-autogenerated4_3-0)** ["War, Auschwitz, and the Tragic Tale of Germany's Jewish Soccer Hero"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/war-auschwitz-and-the-tragic-tale-of-germanys-jewish-soccer-hero/). *Vice Sports*. 13 April 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-autogenerated6_4-0)** Cox, Nigel (April 2008). [*Phone Home Berlin: Collected Non-Fiction*](https://books.google.com/books?id=FQaAAwAAQBAJ&q=Gottfried+Fuchs&pg=PA141). Victoria University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780864738004](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780864738004).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Reyes, Macario (26 June 2008). ["V. Olympiad Stockholm 1912 Football Tournament"](https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1912f-det.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 30 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-autogenerated5_6-0)** Simpson, Kevin E. (22 September 2016). [*Soccer under the Swastika: Stories of Survival and Resistance during the Holocaust*](https://books.google.com/books?id=9_7lDAAAQBAJ&dq=Gottfried+Fuchs&pg=PR19). Rowman & Littlefield. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781442261631](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781442261631). Retrieved 22 November 2022 – via Google Books.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autogenerated3_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autogenerated3_7-1) ["Gottfried Fuchs Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200417221926/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/fu/gottfried-fuchs-1.html). 17 April 2020. Archived from [the original](https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/fu/gottfried-fuchs-1.html) on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Clavane, Anthony (27 September 2012). [*Does Your Rabbi Know You're Here?: The Story of English Football's Forgotten Tribe*](https://books.google.com/books?id=PJCXBQAAQBAJ&dq=Gottfried+Fuchs&pg=PT64). Quercus Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780857388131](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780857388131). Retrieved 22 November 2022 – via Google Books.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_9-1) [""Snapshot – Sepp Herberger tries to invite Gottfried Fuchs""](https://web.archive.org/web/20180620024229/http://bundesligafanatic.com/20130904/snapshot-sepp-herberger-tries-to-invite-gottfried-fuchs/). Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_10-0)** ["Jüdische Sportstars: Gottfried Fuchs"](http://juedische-sportstars.de/index.php?id=190&L=2). *juedische-sportstars.de*. Retrieved 22 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. – Die DFB-Geschichte"](https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500154). *www.dfb.de*. Retrieved 22 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Jopson, Barney; Agini, Samuel (20 August 2023). ["Spain beat England 1-0 to become Women's World Cup champions"](https://www.ft.com/content/1a42acf8-3572-49f5-851f-391c1376f928). *Financial Times*. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Ein Zeichen gegen Diskriminierung](https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=501068) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120701021255/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=501068) 1 July 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in German) *DFB* website. Retrieved 25 June 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Mendel, Jack (20 March 2020). ["Living with the ghost of my grandfather, a German Jewish football icon"](https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/chelsea-fc-julius-hirsch-andreas/). *Times of Israel*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Kommerz rund ums DFB-Team stößt den deutschen Fans auf"](https://www.waz.de/sport/article401693241/kommerz-rund-ums-dfb-team-stoesst-den-deutschen-fans-auf.html). *[Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung](/source/Westdeutsche_Allgemeine_Zeitung)* (in German). 10 November 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Leischwitz, Christoph (7 November 2023). ["Der DFB hat ein Imageproblem – jetzt auch empirisch belegt"](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/deutscher-fussball-bund-dfb-bernd-neuendorf-1.6299793). *[Süddeutsche Zeitung](/source/S%C3%BCddeutsche_Zeitung)* (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Mitglieder des DFB ("Members of DFB")"](https://www.dfb.de/ueber-uns/der-dfb/mitglieder). *www.dfb.de* (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Southern German Football Association website](https://www.suedfv.de/) (in German) accessed: 24 March 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [Southwestern German Football Association website](http://www.frv-suedwest.de/) (in German) accessed: 17 July 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Western German Football Association website](https://www.wdfv.de/) (in German) accessed: 17 July 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Northern German Football Association website](https://www.nordfv.de/) (in German) accessed: 17 July 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** [North Eastern German Football Association website](http://www.nofv-online.de/) (in German) accessed: 17 July 2012

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Deutscher Fußball-Bund](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Deutscher_Fu%C3%9Fball-Bund).

- [Official website](https://www.dfb.de/) (in German)

- [FIFA profile](https://inside.fifa.com/en/about-fifa/associations/GER/)

- [UEFA profile](https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/GER/)

v t e Presidents of the German Football Association (DFB) Hueppe (1900–1904) Nohe (1904–1905) Hinze (1905–1925) Linnemann (1925–1940) Bauwens (1950–1962) Gösmann (1962–1975) Neuberger (1975–1992) Braun (1992–2001) Mayer-Vorfelder (2001–2006) Zwanziger (2004–2012) Niersbach (2012–2015) Koch & Rauball (acting, 2015–2016) Grindel (2016–2019) Koch & Rauball (acting, 2019) Keller (2019–2021) Koch & Peters (acting, 2021–2022) Neuendorf (2022–)

v t e Germany national football team General German Football Association History Honours Managers Captains Kits Venues Home venues Statistics National Records Hat-tricks Matches 1908–1929 1930–1942 1950–1990 1990–1999 2000–2019 2020–present Players 20+ caps 5–19 caps 1–4 caps Born outside Germany Captains Previous squads Other categories Goals Miroslav Klose Gerd Müller World Finals Summary 1934 1938 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 details 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 European Finals Summary 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Other tournaments FIFA Confederations Cup Olympics Mundialito Azteca 2000 Four Nations U.S. Cup UEFA Nations League Rivalries Argentina England France Italy Netherlands West Germany–East Germany Culture Noted matches Paul the Octopus Deutschland. Ein Sommermärchen Other DFB teams B team Olympic team U21 team U20 team U17 team Other youth teams Women Women's youth teams

v t e Football in Germany German Football Association League competitions Bundesliga 2. Bundesliga 3. Liga Regionalliga Oberliga Verbandsliga Landesliga Bezirksliga Gruppenliga Kreisliga Kreisklasse Cup competitions DFB-Pokal DFL-Ligapokal Franz Beckenbauer Supercup Verbandspokal National teams National team B team Olympic team U-21 U-20 Youth U-19 U-18 U-17 U-16 U-15 Manager World Cup performance By city Berlin Munich Awards Footballer of the Year Bundesliga Awards Defunct Bezirksoberliga Champions Clubs Clubs in Europe Football records National records Club honours National honours History Rivalries Venues Player category Men's international players 1–4 caps 5–19 caps 20–150 caps Women's international players

v t e Women's football in Germany German Football Association League competitions Frauen-Bundesliga 2. Frauen-Bundesliga Frauen-Regionalliga 3. Liga Frauen (from 2027–28) German football league system Cup competitions DFB-Pokal DFB-Supercup National teams National team U23 team U21 team U20 team U19 team U17 team Other youth teams Lists Champions Clubs Players Venues Clubs in international competitions East Germany Women's football in East Germany National team

v t e FIFA Women's World Cup hosts 1991: China (CFA) 1995: Sweden (SvFF) 1999: United States (USSF) 2003: United States (USSF) 2007: China (CFA) 2011: Germany (DFB) 2015: Canada (CSA) 2019: France (FFF) 2023: Australia and New Zealand (FA and NZF) 2027: Brazil (CBF) 2031: United States (USSF) 2035: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (FA, SFA, FAW, and IFA)

v t e National football associations of Europe (UEFA) Current Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kazakhstan Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine Wales Defunct Czechoslovakia East Germany Saarland Serbia and Montenegro Soviet Union Yugoslavia

v t e Regional and state associations of the German Football Association North Bremen Hamburg Lower Saxony Schleswig-Holstein Northeast Brandenburg Berlin Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Thuringia West Lower Rhine Middle Rhine Westphalia Southwest Rhineland Saarland Southwest South Baden Bavaria Hesse South Baden Württemberg Category: German football governing bodies

v t e Sports governing bodies in Germany (GER) Summer Olympic Sports Aquatics Diving Swimming Synchronized Swimming Water polo Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Boxing Canoeing Cycling Equestrian Fencing Field hockey Football Golf Gymnastics Handball Judo Modern pentathlon Rugby 7's Rowing Sailing Shooting Table tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball inc. Beach Volleyball Weightlifting Wrestling Winter Olympic Sports Biathlon Bobsleigh Curling Skating (Figure, Speed & Short Track) Ice hockey Luge Skeleton Skiing Alpine Cross Country Nordic Combined Freestyle Jumping Snowboarding Other IOC Recognised Sports Air sports Auto racing Bandy Baseball Billiard sports Boules Bowling Bridge Chess Cricket Dance sport Floorball Karate Korfball Lifesaving Motorcycle racing Mountaineering and Climbing Netball Orienteering Pelota Vasca Polo Powerboating Racquetball Roller sports Rugby Softball Sport climbing Squash Sumo Surfing Tug of war Underwater sports Water ski Wushu Paralympic and Disabled Sports - Others Sports American Football Rugby League Rugby Union Frisbee Gaelic games German Olympic Sports Confederation National Paralympic Committee Germany

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND National United States Japan Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [German Football Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Football_Association) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Football_Association?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.