German Cup final to stay in Berlin until 2030

The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed that the DFB-Pokal final will continue to take place at Berlin's Olympiastadion at least until 2030, following an agreement to prolong the current deal with local officials, announced on Thursday.

Berlin has hosted the cup final every year since 1985, which was prior to the reunification of Germany.

Although the extension was anticipated by many, the DFB has requested improvements to the access points at the 74,475-seat stadium, originally constructed for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Right now, the stadium grounds have just two entry gates, which frequently cause holdups, especially on the day of the cup final.

In the 2025 German Cup final pitting eventual winners Stuttgart against Arminia Bielefeld, supporters from both clubs had to wait as long as 90 minutes.

The newspaper Bild stated that DFB officials were worried about possible conflicts between fans and security staff.

Berlin officials have pledged enhancements to the facilities around the stadium, featuring "an enlargement of the southern access to ease entry for supporters and cut down on queues", according to the official release.

Bernd Neuendorf, president of the DFB, remarked that staging the final in Berlin represents "a vital component of German soccer and a genuine highlight for fans and teams".

Before 1985, the final occurred at assorted neutral sites in West German cities such as Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hanover and Dusseldorf.

The final for this season is set for 23 May.