Bundesliga 2025/26 Pre-Season Brings International Tours and Star-Studded Friendlies
Global Excitement for Bundesliga Clubs Ahead of 2025/26 Season
Bundesliga fans looking forward to the 2025/26 season are about to see their favorite teams hit the road. The summer won’t just be about getting fit—it’s all about going global. This time around, Germany's top clubs are jumping into international tours and pre-season friendlies against some big-name opponents across Europe and beyond.
Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen aren’t wasting any time warming up. These Bundesliga heavyweights are getting an early start by taking part in the prestigious Club World Cup. These matches will give them a tough edge before the Bundesliga even gets underway on 22 August 2025. If you’re marking your calendar, Bundesliga 2 gets going a bit earlier, opening on 1 August, which means there’s plenty of action before summer winds down.
Big Matches, New Destinations, and Coaching Changes
One of the most eye-catching fixtures? VfL Wolfsburg will be taking on Dutch giant Feyenoord in Rotterdam on 2 August. Just a week later, on 9 August, they jet off to England for a friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion. These aren’t your typical warm-up games—facing clubs from different leagues adds a real test, making pre-season anything but routine.
The wanderlust doesn’t stop with Wolfsburg. RB Leipzig reportedly has Brazil on its radar for its own tour, promising some samba flair. At the same time, Eintracht Frankfurt is planning to cross the Atlantic for matches in the United States, bringing a taste of Bundesliga football to new crowds and strengthening global fan ties.
Pre-season isn’t just about games and travel. Behind-the-scenes, there are fresh faces in new places. Werder Bremen’s reserve setup welcomes Horst Steffen on the coaching team, hoping to invigorate the next generation. Over at Elversberg, it's Vincent Wagner stepping into a new leadership role, suggesting some clubs see pre-season as the right time to set new directions and shake up their strategies.
The actual Bundesliga calendar has its twists, too. International breaks are slotted for September, October, and November 2025, throwing up those dreaded pauses just as teams find their rhythm. The league also squeezes in a winter break from mid-December to early January—a much-needed breather for players facing the grind. The final league weekend lands on 16 May 2026, shortly before the grand DFB Cup final on 23 May. But don’t pack it up just yet—relegation playoffs extend the drama right up to 26 May.
Fixture junkies won’t have to wait long. The official list for the 2025/26 campaign drops on 27 June 2025, making the countdown to kick-off even more real. Mark your planners—this year, pre-season is way more than just training in the sun.