Holders versus record champions. VfB Stuttgart are set for a blockbuster finale to the 2025/26 season when they take on Bayern Munich in the 83rd DFB Cup final on Saturday 23 May 2026 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin (kick-off 20:00 CEST).
Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß:
We’ll need an extraordinary performance and we’re determined to take this last step.
Big game, big opponent
“We’ll need an extraordinary performance and we’re determined to take this last step,” said Sebastian Hoeneß. His side coped with the pressure in last year’s title-decider by beating Arminia Bielefeld 4-2. “We got a taste for it, and you could feel that throughout our entire cup run,” said the 44-year-old.
VfB are ready for another huge match, and so are their opponents. The two sides have already met three times this season: twice in the Bundesliga and once in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, with Bayern coming out on top on each occasion.
Captain Atakan Karazor:
We’re very motivated and want to keep the cup in Stuttgart.
Karazor’s good omen
“We qualified for the Champions League via the Bundesliga, we’ve handled high-pressure situations and now we can achieve something wonderful in the DFB Cup final,” continued Hoeneß.
His captain Atakan Karazor, who was also at the official DFB pre-match press conference, added: “We know what to expect – we’re playing Bayern Munich, you always have to raise your game to another level. We don’t need to talk about motivation. We’re very motivated and want to keep the cup in Stuttgart.”
The 29-year-old midfielder also sees history as a positive sign for his team: “Last season, I scored a penalty in our first cup game and we went on to lift the trophy. This season I also scored a penalty in our first cup game...”
