Germany Cup-2025/2026 (Deutsche Pokalmeisterschaften) is a competition among German club teams. The final stage features 28 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams, with the event organized by the Deutscher Tischtennis-Bund (DTTB, the German Table Tennis Association).
The Men’s Cup kicked off on August 24, 2025, with the Men’s Final Four scheduled for January 4, 2026.
The Women’s Cup will start on January 10, 2026, and the Women’s Final Four will take place on January 11, 2026.
Men:
In the preliminary round, 16 lower-division clubs were divided into four groups of four teams each, competing in a round-robin format. The four group winners and 12 seeded Bundesliga teams then advanced to the knockout stage starting from the round of 16.
The semifinals and final were played in a one-day “Final Four” format on January 4 in Neu-Ulm.
Matches are played under the TTBL system with teams of three players, with victory awarded upon reaching three points. The order of players can be chosen freely. If the score is tied at 2–2, a decisive doubles match is played, in which the number one player—who competes in two singles matches—is not allowed to participate.
Women:
Tournament regulations
The 2026 German Cup for women’s teams is held over one weekend.
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the 12 qualified teams — all 7 clubs from Bundesliga 1 as well as 5 teams from other federal leagues — will be divided into four preliminary groups to determine the semifinalists. In each group, three team matches will be played starting at 11:00. The winner of each group advances to the semifinals, which will be held on Sunday.
The draw for the semifinal pairings takes place immediately after the conclusion of the final group-stage match, as soon as all four semifinalists have been determined.
On Sunday, January 11, 2026, both semifinal matches will kick off simultaneously at 11:00. After a short break following the semifinals, the final match between the two semifinal winners will be played later the same day.
Following the final, the award ceremony for the winners of the 2026 German Cup will take place with the participation of representatives of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) and the competition organizers.
Match procedure
Team matches are played according to the DTTB system with teams consisting of three players. Within one team match, four singles matches and one concluding doubles match are contested.
After the first two singles matches, both teams are entitled to replace the player listed as number one with a substitute. All players who have appeared in the number one position are not eligible to take part in the concluding doubles match.
A team is declared the winner as soon as it records three victories in individual matches. Each individual match is played in a best-of-five format (first to three games).
The lineup of players in the teams does not have to correspond to the ranking list.
Order of matches
- A1 – B2 (Player No. 1 of Team A vs Player No. 2 of Team B)
- A2 – B1 (Player No. 2 of Team A vs Player No. 1 of Team B)
- A3 – B3 (Players No. 3 of both teams)
- A1 – B1 (Players No. 1 of both teams)
- DA – DB (Concluding doubles match)
