Fifth-tier club HEBC have set a new attendance record for a DFB-Pokal first-round match. Over 41,600 tickets have been sold for their game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. This surpasses the previous record of 41,500 spectators set by Atlas Delmenhorst against Werder Bremen in August 2019. Kickoff is at 20:45. Borussia Dortmund are the clear favourites for the tie, which was originally scheduled earlier. It was postponed because Dortmund played Bayern Munich in the Supercup last Saturday.
HEBC are using the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg for the cup match. The stadium has a capacity of roughly 57,000. However, the Nordkurve is reserved for members of Hamburger SV. Therefore, the club does not expect a completely sold-out arena. HEBC President Konstantin Zimmermann was nevertheless overwhelmed. "Theoretically, 57,000 spectators could fit in. But the Nordkurve is reserved for HSV members." said Zimmermann. For the fifth-division side, the ticket sales mean a financial success. After covering fixed costs, a profit will remain for the club.
For Borussia Dortmund, the match is the next competitive fixture in an early phase of the season. Edin Terzić's team started the Bundesliga with a win and currently sits in 5th place in the table. Three points were taken from a possible three. The record after one game is one win, no draws, and no losses. Dortmund scored two goals and conceded none, giving them a goal difference of +2. This successful start gives the team momentum for the cup encounter. To date, no Bundesliga club has ever been eliminated in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Dortmund naturally wants to continue this streak. The current BVB injury list includes Giannis Konstantelias, Justin Lerma, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini. Their availability is tracked on our injuries page.
Immediately after the cup opener, the next Bundesliga match awaits Borussia Dortmund. On 5 September 2026, BVB will visit TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Hoffenheim currently occupies 12th place in the table. This away game is the next step in the young season. The team will need to switch focus quickly. A win against the fifth-tier side is the expected result and would build additional confidence for the upcoming league trip. A cup defeat of a Bundesliga side against a lower-league opponent would be a major sensation. Dortmund definitely wants to avoid that.
For HEBC, the match is a financial highlight. The revenue from ticket sales is extraordinary for a fifth-division club. President Zimmermann emphasized that the club will make a profit after covering all costs. These funds can be invested in the further development of the club. For Borussia Dortmund, however, sporting success is the priority. A confident advance to the second round is the goal. The team wants to confirm their favourite status and avoid a potential setback following the Supercup final. The current table situation and team statistics can be viewed on our stats page. The focus is clearly on the next step in a long season.
