Bundesliga: all you need to know about the 18 clubs in the 2026-27 German top flight

FC Bayern Munich, German champions in 2025-26, will be defending their title from Friday 28 August 2026, when the 64^th edition of the Bundesliga kicks off.

Runners-up Borussia Dortmund, third-placed RB Leipzig and fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart will join the Bavarian club in the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (5^th) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (6^th) have qualified for the league phase of the Europa League, while SC Freiburg (7^th) are competing in the Conference League play-offs against Scottish side Motherwell FC, with the return leg scheduled for 27 August 2026 after a 3-1 win in Scotland in the first leg.

The three promoted clubs in the 2026-27 Bundesliga are FC Schalke 04, relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season, SC Paderborn 07, who had not played in the…