Gold Cup adventure ends | Schedule coming Friday

After Suriname and Jean-Paul Boëtius enjoyed success in World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 win against Puerto Rico and a 1-1 draw with El Salvador, the midfielder and his national team were less fortunate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Gold Cup is a competition held every two years to determine the best football nation in North, Central America, and the Caribbean. Suriname’s opening match saw them lose 4-3 to Costa Rica in a spectacular duel – Boëtius came on as a substitute in the 88th minute, and the decisive goal for Costa Rica came in the 13th minute of stoppage time. He started the second group match against Mexico, playing 65 minutes, but the match ended in a 2-0 defeat. With elimination from the group stage already a foregone conclusion before the third match against the Dominican Republic, „Djanga“ was not used in the goalless draw.

The new second division season is looming, and after SV 98’s successful start to training, the release of the fixture list is imminent. Who will SV Darmstadt 98 face at the start of the season? What will the opening fixture list look like? Will the final game of the season be played away or at home at Böllenfalltor? All of these questions will be answered on Friday (June 27th) when the second division fixture list is published. One thing is already certain: for the 2. Bundesliga, normal life begins on August 1st, 2025, and ends on May 17th, 2026. The first weekend without a game is scheduled for the first weekend in September. Those who already have their calendars ready can already mark another match: In the first round of the DFB Cup, SV Darmstadt 98 will travel to the far north to face VfB Lübeck. The cup match has now been firmly set for Saturday (August 16th, 6pm).

On August 27th, SV Darmstadt 98 Stadion GmbH will be hosting its first running event around the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor: the premiere of the Lilien Relay Marathon! Running enthusiasts can form groups of two to eight runners and complete a marathon or half marathon together. Whether with colleagues, friends, or acquaintances – in addition to the sporting aspect, the team spirit will naturally be the focus. Registration is possible as a company relay, club relay, or relay among friends. Individual registrations are also welcome and will be divided into separate relay teams.

The start and finish are at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. From there, runners will set off on a varied route through the adjacent forest. A water station will be available along the route, and cold drinks will be available immediately after the finish line. To replenish energy, additional cold drinks and stadium-style snacks can be purchased at the kiosks, and the evening can be rounded off together. Registration is only possible via the online portal.

Although the 2. Bundesliga schedule won’t be released until Friday, one thing is already certain: SV Darmstadt 98’s first friendly match will take place on Sunday (June 29), when the Lilies‘ first team will host group league side SV Traisa 1911. Kickoff is at 2pm.

If you don’t want to miss the opportunity to watch the first friendly match of the season live, be sure to stop by our neighbours in southeast Darmstadt! You can expect not only the team’s first appearance of the summer preseason, but also a sporting highlight in a friendly atmosphere.

Want to watch the Lilien players in action during their summer preseason? This week, you have a few more chances to see the pros in action. In addition to exciting insights into training sessions, you can also expect to be there firsthand as the team works on their form for the upcoming season.

Take the opportunity to meet the new signings, chat with other fans on the sidelines, or get autographs and selfies with your favourite players! So grab your jerseys, scarves, and cameras and stop by the Böllenfalltor. Please note that the training schedule is subject to change at short notice, especially during the summer preseason. We’ll keep you updated on our website.

Together for environmental protection: On June 24th, the Röhm Environmental Day took place at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor – a joint project by Röhm GmbH and SV Darmstadt 98 as part of the social campaign „Under the Sign of the Lily.“ Two eighth-grade classes from the Gutenberg School and the Bernhard-Adelung School, as well as an intensive class from the Morneweg School, were invited to explore environmental and sustainability topics in a playful and educational way.

At three interactive stations, the students explored the topics of waste separation, recycling, and sustainable raw materials in a variety of ways. The garbage memory game asked: What belongs in which bin? At the next station, they explored the path our plastic waste takes. And the young people were able to get involved themselves with exciting experiments. At each station, the classes collected points for the overall score – but in the end, everyone was tied. A draw ultimately decided the winner: The Morneweg School won tickets to a home game of the Lilies. The other two classes also received their fair share of rewards, receiving Lily scarves. The event concluded with a tour of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.

This week is all about two special birthdays with a Lilies past. On Friday (June 27th), Tobias Kempe celebrates his 36th birthday. The Wesel native has been an integral part of the Lilies family since 2014 – with the exception of the 2016/17 season with 1. FC Nürnberg – and will always remain so. His iconic free-kick goal against FC St. Pauli in 2015, with which he shot the Lilies back into the Bundesliga, will also remain unforgettable. After last season, Kempe’s time with the 98ers came to an end after 285 competitive matches in the SV Darmstadt 98 jersey. Dear Tobi, happy birthday!

One day earlier, on Thursday (June 26th), another former Lilien player turns a year older: Jerome Gondorf turns 37. The Karlsruhe native made a total of 140 appearances for the Lilien between 2013 and 2017 and was part of the 2014 promotion team. After stints in Bremen and Freiburg, he most recently ended his playing career at KSC. Dear Jerome, we warmly congratulate you on your birthday and wish you all the best for this new chapter of your life!