On August 22, 2026, Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund will face Bayern Munich in the Signal Iduna Park – not VfB Stuttgart. Why did Stuttgart miss out on the 2026 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup? The DFL’s rules explain the surprising pairing.
What does the DFL rule say?
The Supercup format states that if the league champion also wins the DFB Cup, the runner-up takes the second spot. Bayern Munich completed the Double in 2025/26, so Dortmund stepped in instead of Stuttgart, the beaten cup finalist. Stuttgart finished fourth with 62 points from 34 games (18 wins, 8 draws, 8 losses), 27 points behind Bayern. Their last result was a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on May 16, 2026. Over the last five matches, Stuttgart went unbeaten (2 wins, 3 draws). Dennis Seimen and Justin Diehl remain sidelined.
Why does this matter for VfB Stuttgart?
Missing the Supercup means Stuttgart lost a chance to face the champions early in the new season. While not an official trophy, the Supercup is a prestige friendly that can boost morale and momentum. Instead, Stuttgart must focus on the 2026/27 campaign, where they’ll aim to close the gap to Bayern.
Last season proved Stuttgart’s consistency: they conceded just 49 goals and went five games without defeat. But facing Bayern directly in August would have given them extra preparation time before the league restarts.
When and where is the game?
The 2026 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup kicks off on August 22 at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park. Free-to-air viewers can watch on Sat.1 or stream for free via ran.de. Pay-TV coverage is on Sky, with streams available on Sky Go and WOW.
