14 Frauen-Bundesliga Clubs Form New Association to Boost Women's Football in Germany
Fourteen Frauen-Bundesliga clubs have split from the German Football Association (DFB) to establish a new Women’s Bundesliga Association, aiming to launch a club-owned league starting with the 2027-28 season. Katharina Kiel of Eintracht Frankfurt has been elected as president of this new association, which emphasizes club-led governance and a focus on commercial growth.
This move mirrors the model of the English Women's Super League (WSL), with clubs seeking control over critical aspects such as infrastructure, minimum salaries, and revenue streams. The goal is to improve the league's competitiveness and reduce the migration of players abroad. Leading clubs including Bayern Munich advocate for stronger commercial strategies. Bianca Rech has highlighted the need for greater sponsorship revenue and the importance of autonomous decision-making independent of the DFB.
Germany has seen its women's football lag behind England and Spain in recent years, a situation underscored by a disappointing performance in the 2023 World Cup. Hosting the Euros in 2029 is viewed as an opportunity to accelerate the sport's development in the country.
The process to establish the new association began about two years ago, with key decisions planned around the 2027-28 media cycle. The foundational work includes setting criteria for club commitments to the new league. Although the 14 clubs have moved towards governance autonomy, discussions on future collaboration with the DFB are ongoing, with the clubs remaining united in their pursuit of independent governance while negotiating with the federation.
