The German Football League (DFL) released the schedule for the upcoming 2025/26 second-division season on Friday afternoon (June 27). The Lilies will kick off the new season with a home game against Bundesliga relegated side VfL Bochum. SV Darmstadt 98's first away trip will take them to 1. FC Nürnberg. The first half of the season will conclude with an away game against SC Paderborn on Matchday 17.
After the winter break, SV Darmstadt 98 will resume league action away against VfL Bochum between January 16 and 18, 2026. The second division season will conclude with a home game against SC Paderborn on May 17, 2026 (3:30pm) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The international breaks for the 2025/26 season are scheduled around the following weekends: September 5-7, October 10-12, November 14-16, and March 27-29.
Paul Fernie: „There’s nothing better than starting the season with a home game at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. With VfL Bochum, we’re looking forward to a challenging and exciting opening match against a club that has played in the Bundesliga in recent years. The DFL schedule offers us interesting, traditional clubs on the first few matchdays, which already increases our excitement and anticipation for the start of the season.“
Game Day |
Match |
Dates |
| 1. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – VfL Bochum | 02/03.08.2025 |
| 2. Matchday | 1. FC Nürnberg – SV Darmstadt 98 | 08. until 10.08.2025 |
| DFB-Pokal, 1st Round | VfB Lübeck – SV Darmstadt 98 | 16.08.2025, 6pm |
| 3. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – Hertha BSC | 22. until 24.08.2025 |
| 4. Matchday | 1. FC Kaiserslautern – SV Darmstadt 98 | 29. until 31.08.2025 |
| 5. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – Eintracht Braunschweig | 12. until 14.09.2025 |
| 6. Matchday | Fortuna Düsseldorf – SV Darmstadt 98 | 19. until 21.09.2025 |
| 7. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – Dynamo Dresden | 26. until 28.09.2025 |
| 8. Matchday | Holstein Kiel – SV Darmstadt 98 | 03. until 05.10.2025 |
| 9. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – 1. FC Magdeburg | 17. until 19.10.2025 |
| 10. Matchday | FC Schalke 04 – SV Darmstadt 98 | 24. until 26.10.2025 |
| 11. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – Arminia Bielefeld | 31.10. until 02.11.2025 |
| 12. Matchday | Hannover 96 – SV Darmstadt 98 | 07. until 09.11.2025 |
| 13. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – SpVgg Greuther Fürth | 21. until 23.11.2025 |
| 14. Matchday | SV Elversberg – SV Darmstadt 98 | 28. until 30.11.2025 |
| 15. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – Karlsruher SC | 05. until 07.12.2025 |
| 16. Matchday | SV Darmstadt 98 – SC Preußen Münster | 12. until 14.12.2025 |
| 17. Matchday | SC Paderborn – SV Darmstadt 98 | 19. until 21.12.2025 |
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.