Record Membership for the Germany Football Association
The Germany Football Association (DFB) is growing further. The federation has increased the record number of members from last year, when the mark of eight million was first exceeded. According to the DFB, the association now has 8.2 million members. Since 2022, there has been an increase of 1.1 million members.
Increase in Referees, but Decline in Active Players
Despite the increase in membership, the number of active players has declined for the first time in years: 2.34 million players represent a decline of 0.46 percent. This is particularly due to the male sector. In the girls' sector, the development is considered positive by the DFB: In the past year, there were 630 more pure girls' teams than in the previous year - currently there are 6,662.
Current Form and Future Challenges
Last result: Germany 1-1 Paraguay (2026-06-29). Current form: 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss (DLWWW). However, a crucial away game in the Netherlands is coming up first: vs Netherlands (2026-09-24).
Numbers and Facts
The DFB has 8.2 million members, which represents an increase of 1.1 million since 2022. The number of referees increased to 62,333 in the 2025/2026 season, which is 1,307 more than in the previous year. In the girls' sector, there are 6,662 teams, which represents an increase of 630 in the past year.
Conclusion
The DFB is growing further, but there are also challenges. The federation is working together with the regional associations to improve the conditions for amateur football. The DFB president, Bernd Neuendorf, said: „Many clubs are reaching their limits in terms of sports facilities, training times, personnel and organization. Therefore, we are working tirelessly together with our regional associations to improve the conditions for amateur football.“
