Overview
- The draw starts at 19:00 in Dortmund and airs live on ARD and Sportschau, while Sky holds most live-match rights and ARD/ZDF show selected games including both semifinals and the final.
- Ex-referee Dr. Felix Brych will conduct the draw at the Deutsches Fußballmuseum, with Alex Schlüter hosting.
- The two-pot format applies, with the amateur pot limited to Energie Cottbus (3. Liga) and FV Illertissen (Regionalliga) who receive home advantage when drawn from their pot.
- With few underdogs remaining, potential second-round matchups include Bayern vs Leverkusen, Schalke vs Dortmund, or HSV vs St. Pauli.
- Standout first-round notes include Illertissen’s 6:5 penalty upset of Nürnberg and Werder Bremen’s 0:1 exit to Arminia Bielefeld, and round-two ties will be played on 28–29 October.