New Teams, A Growing Fan Base and A League Takeover: An Introduction to the Frauen-Bundesliga

Germany's top division is one of the oldest and most successful women's football leagues in the world. It has produced European champions, World Cup winners and some of the biggest clubs and players in the sport. Now an exciting new Frauen-Bundesliga season is ahead of us and a lot happened before the ball was even kicked. From Stuttgart and Mainz about to play their first  Bundesliga season, to the growing number of fans in the stadiums, to clubs taking a major step towards running the league by themselves and fans protesting against kick-off times.

This season will be an important one - not just on the pitch.

What Exactly is the Frauen-Bundesliga?

The Bundesliga is the highest division in German football. It determines the German champion and the two teams relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, as well as Germany's representatives in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The current champions are FC Bayern München, who have won the title four season in a row.

A Long History Explained 

Although the Bundesliga was only established in 1990, organised women's football in Germany dates back much further. 

From 1974 onwards, the DFB held the "Deutsche Fußballmeisterschaft"  - the German Football Championship - with clubs like SSG Bergisch Gladbach dominating the early years. In 1989, Germany won the Euros at home and the decision to create the Bundesliga was made that same year. Originally consisting of two groups of ten teams each, they were split based on their locations; the Northern and the Southern league. The only exception was the 1991/92 season, when each group had eleven participants due to two teams from the former DDR (East Germany) joining. The following season, however, they went right back to ten teams.

The teams that finished first and second in each group qualified for the semi-finals. The team with the overall record from the home and away fixture advanced to the final, which was played at one of the participants' stadiums. In 1997, the Bundesliga became a single league with twelve teams, a structure that remained until the league was expanded to 14 teams for the 2025/26 season. When the Bundesliga was created in 1990, 20 clubs were invited to become its founding members.Some of those clubs have disappeared completely, while others have changed their name and identity along the way. The only club that still plays under the same name as they did in the league's debut season is FC Bayern München. 

Frankfurt is the most successful overall team in Bundesliga history. The club began as SG Praunheim, then became 1. FFC Frankfurt in 1999, before eventually merging with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2020. Similar things happened in Wolfsburg, Duisburg and Cologne. This is one reason why the history of the Bundesliga can be confusing; a club may have played under three or four different names while maintaining the same history.

TSV Siegen dominated the Northern division in the early 1990s, winning four national titles in the first six seasons. Meanwhile, FSV Frankfurt and TuS Niederkirchen were the top contestants in the Southern division, each winning a national title. Grün-Weiß Braunweiler won the last title before the Bundesliga became single-tracked. The first season with twelve teams saw FSV Frankfurt win but over time, the former champions and pioneers were replaced by new or newly formed teams. 1. FFC Frankfurt and 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam took over then, splitting almost every Bundesliga title between them from 1999 until 2012. Frankfurt won seven titles, while Potsdam won six, four of which were consecutive from 2009 to 2012.

Since 2013, the title has belonged exclusively to either Wolfsburg or Bayern München.Both clubs now have seven Bundesliga championships to their name, making them joint record champions alongside 1. FFC Frankfurt. This season could see a club make history by becoming the Bundesliga champions for the eighth time. Former Bundesliga winners can display their achievements by adding stars above their crest; one star for three titles, two for five and three for ten. Since no team has yet reached this milestone, Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Wolfsburg, FC Bayern München and Turbine Potsdam all play with two stars on their jerseys.

From the DFB to the FBL

History is also being made behind the scenes right now. The Bundesliga has been organised by the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) throughout its entire history. The DFB is responsible for competition organisation, licensing and refereeing. However, last season, the 14 Bundesliga clubs decided that they wanted more control over their own league. In December 2025, they established the Frauen-Bundesliga (FBL) e.V., a league association that is intended to become the women's equivalent of the men's DFL. Its President is Katharina Kiel, the women's football director at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Initially, the plan was for the DFB and the FBL to create a joint venture that would handle the league's future development. But the plans fell apart in February 2026, when the clubs and the DFB failed to reach an agreement on how the organisation should be run. The clubs wanted more control over decisions affecting their own league, whereas the DFB wanted to retain significant influence. For a while, it seemed that the two sides might genuinely go their separate ways, leaving the future of the Bundesliga uncertain. Eventually, however, they did find a compromise.

This 2026/27 season will be a transition year, with the DFB still responsible for running the competition. From 1 July 2027, the FBL is scheduled to take over responsibility for organising and marketing the Bundesliga. The new structure is intended to make the league more professional and commercially independent. The FBL will be responsible for areas such as marketing and future media rights negotiations, while the DFB will continue to be involved in areas including youth development, the 2. Bundesliga, refereeing and the national teams.

So, in simple terms; the clubs are taking control of their league, much as the men's Bundesliga clubs did a few years ago.

How Does the Season Work?

The 14 teams play each other twice, once at home and once away, meaning that every club plays 26 matches over the season.  The team that finishes in first place becomes the German Champion, while the teams that finish in second and third place qualify for the UWCL playoffs. The bottom two teams are relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, being replaced by the top two teams from that division. 

Unlike the WSL, every Bundesliga game has its own kick-off time, with barely any overlap between games - if there is, it's usually only for a few minutes. Kick-off times are Friday at 18:30, Saturday at 12:00 and 14:00, Sunday at 14:00, 16:00 and 18:30, and Monday at 18:00. 

While there are pros and cons to each of these slots, the last one is disliked by almost everyone in the stands.

Why have fans protested?

A few years ago, the Monday game was introduced to give the Bundesliga a regular, exclusive television slot and earn more money from the platforms streaming the game. On paper, that sounds like a good idea. In reality, however, it has caused a lot of frustration among supporters.

A 6 pm Monday kick-off is difficult for anyone who works normal hours, and is particularly challenging for away supporters, who sometimes have to travel hundreds of kilometres to attend the game. For most fans, this means having to choose between supporting their team and taking up to two days off work.  Therefore, fans have argued that the league shouldn't sacrifice stadium attendance for a television slot without clear evidence that Monday games actually attract significantly more TV viewers.

Earlier this year, fans across the Bundesliga finally had enough when they learned that the DFB intended to include Monday games again when negotiating with streaming services for the media rights to broadcast the 2027/28 season onwards. (Due to the conflict with the FBL, the broadcasting rights negotiations have been pushed back to September/October and will be handled by the FBL without the DFB.) Fans from all over the Bundesliga and even some from the second division came together to protest these Monday evening kick-offs. Supporters stayed silent, or at least refrained from chanting and drumming, for 14 minutes at the beginning of each match, to represent the 14 teams in the league. Furthermore, supporters displayed banners in the stadiums bearing the slogan 'Alle vereint - zusammen gegen Montagsspiele', meaning 'All United - Together Against Monday Fixtures'.

The protests weren't aimed at women's football being shown on television, nor at the teams or players - quite the opposite, in fact. Fans want the league to become more accessible. They simply believe that growing the sport should include enabling supporters to attend all their team's matches.

Spectators

German women's football is currently enjoying a high level of popularity and more attention than ever before. In its first years, the average attendance per game was around 200 people. After Germany won the Euros in 2003, attendance almost doubled the following season and continued to climb slowly with more and more games attracting over a thousand spectators.

The national team went on to dominate the 2000s, winning the World Cup again in 2007 and every single Euros until 2013. With each big tournament, the Bundesliga saw more people in the stands, reaching an average attendance of over a thousand for three consecutive seasons starting in 2013/14.

Attendance figures then fell slightly again, reaching a low of 833 in the last regular season before the pandemic, but almost made it back to that number in 2021/22.

Then came the Euros in 2022. Germany were runners up and the league's average attendance climbed to a record high of more than 2.700 spectators - more than three times the pre-Covid figure. Since then, it has continued to grow.The 2025/26 season attracted a total of more than 650,000 spectators, with an average of over 3.500 per game. The opening match attracted an impressive 57.762 people, setting a new Bundesliga record. The same season, the Nordderby between Bremen and Hamburg attracted 37.000 people, almost selling out Bremen's stadium. Hamburg's Volksparkstadion was sold out for their DFB Cup match the previous season, with 57.000 people in attendance.

Better kick-off times could increase this number even more and win over more and more people.

Who Will be Competing in the Bundesliga This Season?

Since 1990, a total of 53 clubs have played at least one season in the Bundesliga and the only team to play in all 35 seasons is Frankfurt, Wolfsburg played the second most seasons (33). 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam - including their former club BSG Turbine Potsdam, from which they split from to become an independent team have played the third most whilst Duisburg deserves an honourable mention for playing in the league for 29 seasons.

Current and former teams have come from cities and villages of all sizes, ranging from Ruppach-Goldhausen, which has a population of about 1.200, up to Berlin, which has an estimated population of 3.7 million. In recent years, the league has shifted to play almost exclusively in larger cities.

FC Bayern München

Defending Champions

The team everyone wants to beat, Bayern are going into their 29th Bundesliga season, having been one of the league's founding members, and having constantly participated in the Bundesliga since 2000. They accomplished the domestic double last season and won the Supercup at the beginning of the season. München are going into this season as the obvious favourites to win it all again, the clear team to catch in Germany.

Boasting many national and international superstars, Bayern also have one of the strongest squads in the country. They know how to win the Bundesliga, they won it twice in a row in 2015 and 2016, then again in 2021 and have won it four times in a row since 2023. If they win the league this year, they will not only become record champions but also be the team with the most consecutive Bundesliga championships in history. 

VfL Wolfsburg

Runners-Up

Wolfsburg are Bayern's biggest challengers and arguably the second most successful German women's club of the modern era. They have won seven Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues and eleven German Cups - more than any other team.

Wolfsburg certainly knows how to win, they won the treble - Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Cup - in 2013 and then won the UWCL and the league again the following year. From 2017 to 2020, they won four more Championships and their most recent victory came in 2022.

After finishing second again last season and losing the Cup to Bayern again, they will be determined to finally reclaim the titles back in their overall 35th Bundesliga season - some of which were played as VfR Eintracht Wolfsburg and WSV Wolfsburg-Wendschott.

Eintracht Frankfurt

3rd

This team is essentially the continuation of the legendary 1. FFC Frankfurt and SG Praunheim.

The club's history includes seven German championships between 1999 and 2008 and two European titles , and Frankfurt - with all its former names - is the only founding Bundesliga member that has never been relegated. This season marks their 37th year in the league.

After winning their Champions League play-offs earlier this month, they'll now be looking to close the gap on the two clubs above them in the Bundesliga and play UWCL football again after missing out last season..

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

4th

Since their promotion in 2013, Hoffenheim have become a reliable Bundesliga club.

They are particularly well known for developing young players, with their second team also having an impressive record in the 2. Bundesliga. While they may not have as many players in the current German national team as Bayern or Wolfsburg, they remain one of Germany's strongest teams outside the traditional giants. This is going to be their 14th season in the Bundesliga but can they continue challenging after losing Bundesliga top scorer Selina Cerci this summer?

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

5th

Leverkusen returned to the Bundesliga in 2018 and have since established themselves steadily.

Last season's fifth-place finish was their best since returning, and their next goal is to get closer to the European places in their 20th Bundesliga season.

Werder Bremen

6th

Werder have moved between the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga over the years, but have now established themselves in the top flight again. This is their 10th season overall and their seventh in a row since their most recent promotion in 2020. Their growing crowds are another reason to keep an eye on Bremen - the club has shown that there is plenty of interest in women's football in the north.

1. FC Köln

7th

Köln have been promoted to the Bundesliga four times, most recently in 2021.The club's history is also connected to Grün-Weiß Brauweiler and then FFC Brauweiler, one of the earliest major women's clubs in Germany, which merged with Köln in 2009.They're now aiming to establish themselves as a permanent Bundesliga side and continue to finish in the upper half of the table in their 24th season in the league. 

SC Freiburg

8th

Freiburg have already completed 25 seasons in the Bundesliga and have been a consistent presence in the top flight since their most recent promotion in 2011. Like Hoffenheim, they're known for giving young players opportunities and developing talent rather than simply buying established stars.

FC Union Berlin

9th

Union played in the Bundesliga for the first time last season, and they survived comfortably enough by finishing ninth. Their huge potential perhaps became most obvious when they moved their women's games to the Alte Försterei. More than 20,000 people have already attended some of their matches, showing what is possible when a large men's club puts its resources behind the women's team. The money they have also enabled them to buy many experienced players from other Bundesliga teams prior to their first season, and more again this year. Ones to watch.

RB Leipzig

10th

Leipzig have been in the Bundesliga since 2023 after climbing through the German football pyramid. Although the club has the infrastructure of a major football organisation, the immediate goal is to establish the women's team as a permanent top-flight team. While the men's team is often criticised for being a relatively new club, RB established and invested in their women's football department much earlier than many other men's clubs, and they are now going into their fourth season in the Bundesliga.

FC Nürnberg

11th

Nürnberg returned to the Bundesliga in 2023 after a remarkable 23-year absence. They were relegated again straight away, but bounced back in 2025 and survived their first season back.

They are about to enter their fourth Bundesliga season.

Hamburger SV

12th

Hamburg returned to the Bundesliga in 2025 and managed to narrowly avoid relegation.

The club has a huge potential audience in Hamburg, particularly since all of their matches are played at the Volksparkstadion. They'll now ensure that their return becomes permanent rather than another short stay, given that they have experienced twelve seasons and four promotions in their Bundesliga history so far.

VfB Stuttgart

Champions of 2. Bundesliga - Bundesliga debut.

Stuttgart are one of two new teams this season. They won the 2. Bundesliga last season and will play in the Bundesliga for the first time ever. Backed by one of Germany's biggest men's football clubs, Stuttgart have plenty of potential, supporters and money - although surviving their first season will be the immediate priority.

FSV Mainz 05

Runners-Up in 2. Bundesliga - Bundesliga debut

Mainz are the other newcomers and complete this season's Bundesliga line-up. They've never played in the Bundesliga before, so their first match will be the beginning of a new chapter in the club's history. Although they have one of the lowest budgets this year, Mainz have built their new team around many of their former regular starters, so that might be their advantage. 

Where Can You Watch the Bundesliga?

The Bundesliga has never been easier to follow. For the current rights cycle, all matches are available via DAZN and MagentaSport, while Sport1 broadcasts the free-to-air match on Mondays. ARD and ZDF also show selected matches live on free-to-air television. 

With the FBL set to take over the league's marketing from 2027, television will be one of its biggest opportunities - and biggest challenges.

Why the Bundesliga Should be on Everyone's Radar

There are plenty of reasons.

You have Bayern, who are trying to win a fifth consecutive title, while Wolfsburg are trying to stop them and Frankfurt are waiting for their opportunity.You have some of Europe's best players, a growing supporter base and increasingly impressive stadium crowds.

Most importantly, you're watching a league that is evolving right before your eyes. The Bundesliga is becoming bigger, more professional and increasingly independent. The move from the DFB to the FBL will probably be one of the most important changes in its history, while the record crowds show that the audience already exists.The challenge now is making sure the league keeps giving fans a reason to come back.

The 2026/27 season starts on 21 August, with defending champions Bayern München travelling to face Union Berlin, a team with one of the highest average attendances in Europe. So whether you're a Bayern fan, interested in the new Stuttgart and Mainz teams, waiting to see whether Union can build on their debut season or simply want to discover some of Germany's historic women's clubs, there is plenty to look forward to.

The Bundesliga has changed enormously since the first 20 founding clubs took the field in 1990.

It has gone from two regional divisions to one national league, from crowds of a few hundred to stadiums holding tens of thousands, and from a competition largely made up of specialist women's clubs to one increasingly dominated by the biggest names in German men's football.

With two new teams, a defending champion hoping for their fifth title in a row, a new league structure on the horizon and supporters demanding that women's football gets the treatment it deserves, there might not be a better time to start watching.