Bundesliga

Founded in 1963, the German Bundesliga is one of the top domestic leagues in Europe. It is organized by the German Football Association and is also known as the “Fußball-Bundesliga” or “1. Bundesliga”.

The league consists of 18 teams battling it out for the title. The German league is unique in the sense that it has an extended break over the Christmas season where the campaign stops for a period of 1 month (5-6 weeks), mainly due to the weather conditions.

The competition hosts a variety of top-caliber clubs that have made a name for themselves both domestically and/or in Europe. Without a doubt, Bayern München are the most recognizable German side, with other notable teams being Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen, and Eintracht Frankfurt. In fact, Bayern hold the record for the most titles in Bundesliga history, having a wide margin over their nearest competitors, Borussia Dortmund.

The German top-flight operates under a promotion-relegation system, with the bottom two teams automatically dropping to the second division at the end of each season and being replaced by the top two finishers in the 2. Bundesliga. The third-from-bottom side enter the relegation playoff. Here they face the third-placed team from the second division, with the winner earning a spot in the Bundesliga for the following campaign.

This competition ranks among Europe’s top five leagues, which comes as little surprise given the great teams and iconic players the Bundesliga has blessed us with. Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer are two of the most iconic names to have played in the German top-flight, but the list doesn’t stop there as Jupp Heynckes, Lothar Matthaus, Oliver Kahn, Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski, and many others are worthy of praise.

As a result, the tournament enjoys immense popularity, with legions of fans both in Germany and worldwide tuning week in, week out to catch the action live via licensed TV broadcasters, live streaming options, and on-demand services. In Germany, DAZN, Sky Deutchsland, Sat.1 and Sport1 combine to offer extensive coverage of the Bundesliga.

In the USA, ESPN acquired the TV and live streaming broadcast rights for the German Bundesliga until 2026. All matches are accessible to US Audiences on ESPN+, with select matches airing on ESPN's TV networks.