Cologne football fever: The exciting pairings in the Bitburger Cup have been confirmed!

Cologne football fever: The exciting pairings in the Bitburger Cup have been confirmed!

Late on Tuesday afternoon, the Middle Rhine Football Association (FVM) drew the second round of the men's Bitburger Cup for the 2025/26 season. Fans and clubs are looking forward to the following matches, which promise exciting football evenings. The draw has produced several Cologne teams that will now take part in the competition.

The Cologne pairings in the second round are: FC Rheinsüd Köln (district league) meets FV Bonn-Endenich (state league), DJK Rasensport Aachen-Brand (state league) plays against FC Teutonia Weiden (middle Rhine league), and SpVg. Frechen 20 (Middle Rhine League) was drawn by SpVg Porz (Middle Rhine League). Furthermore, SC Borussia Lindenthal-Hohenlind (state league) plays against SSV Merten (Middle Rhine League) and SV Scherpenseel-Grotenrath (district league A) meets S.C. Fortuna Cologne (Regional League). Another highlight is the encounter between VfL 08 Vichttal (Middle Rhine League) and Viktoria Köln (3rd League). The Cologne duels conclude with the match between FC Germania Lich-Steinstraß (State League) and FC Pesch (Middle Rhine League) reports the Rheinische Anzeigeblatt.

Dates and mode

The second round will be played between September 23rd and 25th. The entire competition consists of six rounds, including the final, which will take place on May 23, 2026 in Cologne's Sportpark Höhenberg. The teams lower in the league can enjoy home advantage up to and including the semi-finals, which makes the cup fight even more exciting. The final also offers the coveted opportunity to qualify for the first main round of the DFB Cup. Other important dates in the game are the round of 16 on November 22nd, 2025, the quarterfinals from February 24th to 26th and the semifinals on March 24th to 26th, 2026 The Rheinische Anzeigeblatt provides further information.

But the Bitburger Cup is not just a competition, but a showcase for the amateur football scene in Germany. The nationwide final day, which will be celebrated for the tenth time on May 24, 2024, combines state cup finals in a live conference on ARD. Initiators like Dirk Brennecke and Ingolf Geske have made significant efforts since 2015 to present the state cups in the best possible way. A total of 21 state cup finals are coordinated, which represents a truly mammoth challenge. Brennecke emphasizes that the TV quota for the broadcasts has increased from 6-7% to over 10%, which shows the attractiveness of these events share the FVM messages.

A look at the future

Preparations for the final day are already in full swing. This year, seven sixth division teams will take part in the final day - a new record. Broadcasting the games poses logistical challenges for ARD, especially with smaller stadiums that often have to be improvised. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that the broadcasts have recently led to an increase in the number of visitors to the stadiums underline the FVM news. The Bitburger Cup is not just a competition, but also an opportunity for amateur football to put itself in the spotlight and thus win new fans.

Take a look at the different state cups and their details about the Kicker. Here you will find a lot more exciting information about the cup competitions.