HSV travel to face FK 03 Pirmasens in DFB-Pokal first round

The draw for the first round of the 2025/26 DFB-Pokal took place on Sunday (15th June) at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. HSV track and field athlete Owen Ansah, who last year became the first German to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds, performed the draw, granting Hamburger SV a favourable opponent. The first competitive match of the upcoming season sees the Rothosen take on fifth-division club FK 03 Pirmasens in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, on the weekend before the start of the Bundesliga season. The club of HSV goalkeeping coach Sven Höh’s youth finished the past season in third place in the fifth tier and qualified for the DFB-Pokal after winning the South-West regional cup.

HSV board member Stefan Kuntz is delighted about the first-round tie in Pirmasens (approximately 40 kilometres from his home): “For me personally, this is obviously a special draw, because FK is a traditional club in my home region. I remember many heated duels from my youth between Borussia Neunkirchen and FK 03 Pirmasens. My father also played at their old stadium in the 60s.” Head coach Merlin Polzin is also looking forward to the clash: “We kick off the new season with this match away to FK 03 Pirmasens. We’re looking forward to our first competitive fixture in this very special competition. Our goal is of course to reach the next round.” The first round of the DFB-Pokal is scheduled for between the 15th and 18th August, but exact dates have not yet been confirmed.