Кубок Германии (женщины) (Германия) 2026/27

**DHB-Pokal der Frauen: The premier women's handball cup in Germany**

**History and status:** The DHB-Pokal der Frauen (German Women's Handball Cup) is the main national knockout tournament for women's handball in Germany. Founded in 1975, it has a long history in German handball. The competition sits below the Handball-Bundesliga der Frauen in the domestic structure.

**Format:** The tournament uses a knockout system ending with a Final Four event. For the 2024/25 season, 31 teams participated. Qualification works in stages: the previous champion and top three Bundesliga teams enter directly in the Round of 16. Other teams compete in qualification rounds first. The Final Four has been held annually in Stuttgart since 2018.

**Notable achievements:** TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen is the most successful club with 9 titles. HB Ludwigsburg won their first title in 2025. Other winners include HC Leipzig (7 titles) and TV Lützellinden (5 titles).

**European qualification:** The competition serves as a primary route to European competitions for teams that don't win the championship. This provides a knockout pathway for lower-league teams to face top-tier opposition.

**Current season (2026):** The following clubs participate in the German Women's Handball Cup: - Werder Bremen Women - Bayer Leverkusen Women - Solingen Women - Wuppertal Women - VfL Oldenburg Women - Rosengarten-Buchholz Women

**Historical significance:** After German reunification, the DHB-Pokal der Frauen succeeded the FDGB-Pokal of East Germany as the sole official national cup for women in Germany. The format underwent important changes in 1994, shifting from two-legged ties to the current Final Four structure.

The tournament has also featured unique formats in its history, such as a four-team round-robin in 1986/87. The Final Four event has had different branding over the years, including "OLYMP Final Four" and currently "Haushahn Final Four."