Season

HSV pre-season preparations 2025/26

Find below an overview of all the key dates as the Rothosen prepare for the new campaign, from medical and performance tests to friendly matches, as well as opening competitive fixtures, including the start of the upcoming Bundesliga season.

HSV are back! After seven years away, the Rothosen return to the Bundesliga to take part in the 63rd edition of Germany’s top-flight. The club’s comeback is particularly special for the fact that HSV were one of the Bundesliga’s founding sides, competing in the league without fail for nearly 55 consecutive years until a first-ever relegation in 2018, earning the team the nickname of the “Bundesliga dinosaur.” Anticipation ahead of the upcoming campaign is therefore great, for which head coach Merlin Polzin and his staff will prepare the squad. Obligatory performance examinations will be carried out on 30th June and 1st July before the side begin training on 2nd July. During the first week of training, the opening friendly matches of the summer will be contested against TSV Elstorf (6th July) and VfB Oldenburg (7th July). HSV.de will continually update the overview of the Rothosen’s pre-season preparations, which are set to span roughly six weeks in total, as further dates regarding friendly matches, competitive fixtures and training camps are announced.

Key dates:

15th June: DFB-Pokal first-round draw
27th June: Bundesliga fixtures published
30th June – 1st July: medical and performance tests
2nd July: Training begins at the Volksparkstadion
6th July: Friendly away to TSV Elstorf (kick-off: 13:00 CEST)
7th July: Friendly away to VfB Oldenburg (kick-off: 13:30 CEST)
16th - 19th August: DFB-Pokal first round
22nd - 24th August: Bundesliga matchday one
16th May 2026: Bundesliga matchday 34