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last mo.

DFB Confirms 3. Liga 2026/27 Calendar as Many Bavarian Clubs Scale Back Promotion Plans

Stricter post‑COVID licensing rules have raised the cost of stepping up to the 3. Liga, so final promotion eligibility will be settled at the DFB licensing deadline in spring 2027.

Letztes Jahr noch in der 3. Liga Gegner: TSV 1860 München und der 1. FC Schweinfurt 05
Dante trainiert die zweite Mannschaft des FC Bayern München

Overview

  • The Deutscher Fußball‑Bund published the 3. Liga framework that opens its 2026/27 season on 7 August 2026 with the first matchday on 8 August and two international breaks in September–October and November.
  • The 3. Liga will field 20 teams next season with promoted sides confirmed including SV Meppen, Fortuna Köln, SG Sonnenhof Großaspach and Würzburger Kickers.
  • 1. FC Nürnberg II, last season’s Regionalliga Bayern champion, declined the right to contest promotion and runners‑up Würzburger Kickers took their playoff place and won promotion to the 3. Liga.
  • Many Regionalliga Bayern clubs have entered this season focused on rebuilding or financial consolidation rather than immediate promotion, with examples including SpVgg Unterhaching, 1. FC Schweinfurt 05, SpVgg Bayreuth and FC Bayern II.
  • Sporting results alone will not decide all promotions because the DFB requires clubs to meet financial, staffing and stadium criteria, so the spring 2027 licensing decisions will be the decisive test of which Bavarian clubs can actually move up.