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 |
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
