Germany · Open Cup
DFB-Pokal
In US-sports termsGermany's open knockout — 64 teams, amateurs host the giants in round one, and the final is always in Berlin. Their March Madness, with a fixed Final Four city.
What it is
Germany's cup: 64 teams from the pro tiers plus regional cup winners, straight knockout, lower-ranked club hosts. The final is played in Berlin every year.
How you get in
The top two divisions enter automatically; amateur and third-tier clubs qualify through regional cups.
What it feeds
Winner → Europa League (cascade applies) and the DFL-Supercup.
First-round upsets of Bundesliga clubs by fourth-tier villages are a beloved annual tradition — 'Pokal magic' is the German phrase for it.