Opinion of the DFB-Pokal?

[Damocles]

The DFB-Pokal is an annual association football knockout competition held in Germany. It is one of two major association football competitions, together with the Bundesliga.

It is contested by 64 teams: all 36 teams from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, the top four teams from the 3. Liga, and 24 teams from various state-level leagues.

The teams are divided into two pots. Pot 1 consists of all 18 teams of the Bundesliga, and teams #1-#14 of the 2. Bundesliga. Pot 2 consists of teams #15-#18 of the 2. Bundesliga, teams #1-#4 of the 3. Liga, and the 24 state-level champions.

Matchups are by luck of the draw in each round, and in the first round, a Pot 1 team always travels to a Pot 2 team in their home stadium.

Half the teams are eliminated in each round. 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2. Finally, there is a grand final between the two remaining teams, and the winner of the grand final is the DFB-Pokal champion for that year.

[Lechasseur]

FT ofc

But why the DFB-Pokal in particular? It's like just about any other national cup in soccer

[Santander]

But why the DFB-Pokal in particular?

Berlin, Berlin, wir fahren nach Berlin!

The passion for the Pokal is greater in Germany than any other country except perhaps England, imo. (and in England, it's mostly only when rivals are drawn together or part-timers/amateurs goes up against pros) German fans seem to be able to make rivalries out of anything. But yeah, the way the thread is written is bizarre.

[Damocles]

FT ofc

But why the DFB-Pokal in particular? It's like just about any other national cup in soccer

Sports tournaments in the US are, or tend to be, closed-ended affairs. To the administrator and donor class who funds the tournaments, they represent nothing more than an opportunity for some billionaire to market a sanitized product, as opposed to having an actual competition. I enjoy watching the DFB-Pokal and other cup competitions because of how compelling the matches truly are. The very idea that a local team from your state could possibly go up against the big boys in the first league - and not only beat them, but knock them out of the competition! - is inspiring.

When presenting opportunities like this for spectators, the format of the tournament fundamentally matters. Keeping a good mix of top-level and local teams in contention for the title is one thing the Pokal does well, and it’s something that I find to be remarkably democratic. Nobody’s better than you, big-money teams, but you’re better than nobody. Get caught sleeping or underestimating an opponent, and you’ll pay for it dearly.

[NewYorkExpress]

The FA Cup is better.

[Lechasseur]

The FA Cup is better.

Agreed