The Frauen-Bundesliga has been underway since the 21st of August. But even before a ball was kicked, it was clear that this season would be unlike any other in the league’s history.
For the first time, there are no independent women’s football clubs in the league and no teams affiliated with a club whose men side plays outside the top two men’s divisions. In addition to that, this season could be the last played under the DFB (German Football Association), as it’s likely that the Frauen-Bundesliga FBL and DFB will go their separate ways from the 1st of July 2027, with the DFB’s final vote scheduled for the 18th of September.
But what else does one need to know about the league? Which players and teams should you keep an eye on? And how can you watch the league?
What does one need to know about the league?
The Bundesliga sits at the top of the German women’s football pyramid, and its season, like the WSL, runs from late summer till late spring.
For the 2025/26 season, the league expanded from 12 to 14 teams, while attendances continued to grow rapidly.
The 2026/27 season features two historic new arrivals: VfB Stuttgart and 1. FSV Mainz 05. For both teams, it will be the first time playing in the Bundesliga in their club’s history, and they both took only one season in the 2. Bundesliga to reach the country’s top division.
How does the league work?
How the season is played is no different to the WSL. Each team plays 26 games each season, one home and one away against each opponent. The team that finishes first is crowned German champion, or Meister as it’s known in Germany, while the bottom two teams are relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.
Currently, discussions are on-going about adding playoffs to determine the champion and the teams entering the Champions League. Furthermore, there are discussions on how the promotion and relegation of the top two leagues could be changed.
The German league in comparison to other leagues
The Bundesliga may not receive the same global attention as the WSL, but it is ranked third, right behind the WSL and the NWSL, according to Opta’s Power Rankings.
The league also has a strong focus on youth development, while more traditional football clubs are investing in their women’s teams, including VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. Alongside that investment, attendances and media exposure continue to grow.
European football in Germany
The top three teams qualify for the Champions League, with each team entering in a different round of the competition. This season, Eintracht Frankfurt entered in the second qualifying round before progressing to the third round, where they got eliminated by Paris Saint Germain. VfL Wolfsburg entered the third qualifying round and were eliminated by Inter Milan on penalties.
As German champions, Bayern Munich qualified directly for the League Phase. With both Wolfsburg and Frankfurt eliminated from the CL, they will now enter the Europa Cup in the second qualifying round.
Teams to watch
While Bayern Munich have dominated in recent years and VfL Wolfsburg have consistently challenged alongside them, there is much more to the Bundesliga than just those two teams.
Eintracht Frankfurt, formerly known as 1. FFC Frankfurt, are one of the most recognisable names in German women’s football and remain regular contenders towards the top of the table. Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, have steadily developed their women’s side in recent years and become an increasingly competitive force in the Bundesliga.
Players to watch
There is plenty of exciting talent in the Bundesliga, from emerging young players to well established stars. The league’s quality is also reflected in the number of players making the move to the WSL this season. Here are five players to watch.
There are plenty of players worth keeping an eye on across the league. Bayern Munich’s Klara Bühl is a dynamic winger capable of causing problems from either side, while teammate Alara Şehitler is a technically gifted midfielder whose close control can unlock defences. Union Berlin centre-back Jella Veit brings composure and intelligence defensively, while HSV’s Lotta Wrede is a dynamic attacker who excels in one-on-one situations. Bayer Leverkusen’s Vanessa Fudalla is another to watch, offering technical quality and a real threat in attack.
What other competitions are there to watch in Germany?
The Bundesliga may be the main attraction, but it isn’t the only competition that makes up German women’s football.
There’s the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup competition; comparable to the Women’s FA Cup. 48 teams from the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and the teams that got promoted to the 2. Bundesliga, as well as the 21 cup winners from the regional associations, compete throughout the season. Each game is a knockout game.
Then there is the Supercup, reintroduced in 2024. In this competition, the current champion and current Cup winner play one game against each other. If both competitions have the same title holder, the team placed second in the league gets to compete. The game is played before the league kicks off.
How can one watch the Bundesliga?
In Germany, all matches are broadcast by Magenta Sport and DAZN. All matches played on Mondays are free-to-air on Sport1, and ARD and ZDF split 10 matches between them throughout the season.
For the rest of the world, it gets more complicated as there is not just one broadcaster but several.
In the UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Japan, Canada and Brazil, games can be watched on DAZN. Viaplay holds the exclusive broadcasting rights in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
For Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, the rights are with Sky.
W-Sport holds exclusive rights in several countries across Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
If your country isn’t listed, it’s worth checking DAZN or W-Sport, as they may hold non-exclusive broadcast rights in your region.
