2025–26 3. Liga

3. Liga
Season2025–26
Dates1 August 2025 – 16 May 2026
Matches played20
Goals scored53 (2.65 per match)
Top goalscorerPatrick Sussek
Berkan Taz
(3 goals)
Biggest home winKöln 2–0 Schweinfurt
Wiesbaden 3–1 Ulm
Munich 3–1 Osnabrück
Biggest away winRegensburg 0–4 Duisburg
Highest scoringCottbus 3–3 Saarbrücken
Longest winning run2 games
Duisburg
Longest unbeaten run2 games
Cottbus
Duisburg
Hoffenheim
Munich
Rostock
Saarbrücken
Wiesbaden
Longest winless run2 games
Aachen
Aue
Essen
Havelse
Ingolstadt
Mannheim
Osnabrück
Regensburg
Schweinfurt
Verl
Longest losing run2 games
Schweinfurt
Highest attendance21,272 Aachen vs Hoffenheim
Lowest attendance950 Stuttgart v Köln
Attendance222,611 (11,131 per match)
2026–27
All statistics correct as of 10 August 2025.

The 2025–26 3. Liga is the 18th season of the 3. Liga. It started on 1 August 2025 and will conclude on 16 May 2026.[1]

The fixtures were announced on 3 July 2025.[2]

Teams

Team changes

Promoted from 2024–25 Regionalliga Relegated from 2024–25 2. Bundesliga Promoted to 2025–26 2. Bundesliga Relegated from 2024–25 3. Liga
MSV Duisburg
TSV Havelse
TSG Hoffenheim II
1. FC Schweinfurt
SSV Ulm
Jahn Regensburg
Arminia Bielefeld
Dynamo Dresden
Borussia Dortmund II
Hannover 96 II
SV Sandhausen
SpVgg Unterhaching

Stadiums and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Alemannia Aachen Aachen Tivoli 32,960
Erzgebirge Aue Aue-Bad Schlema eins Erzgebirgsstadion 16,485
Energie Cottbus Cottbus LEAG Energie Stadion 22,528
MSV Duisburg Duisburg Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena 31,514
Rot-Weiss Essen Essen Stadion an der Hafenstraße 19,962
TSV Havelse Hanover Eilenriedestadion
Heinz von Heiden Arena1
5,001
49,000
TSG Hoffenheim II Sinsheim Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion 6,350
FC Ingolstadt Ingolstadt Audi Sportpark 15,200
Viktoria Köln Cologne Sportpark Höhenberg 8,343
Waldhof Mannheim Mannheim Carl-Benz-Stadion 24,302
1860 Munich Munich Grünwalder Stadion 15,000
VfL Osnabrück Osnabrück Stadion an der Bremer Brücke 15,741
Jahn Regensburg Regensburg Jahnstadion Regensburg 15,210
Hansa Rostock Rostock Ostseestadion 29,000
1. FC Saarbrücken Saarbrücken Ludwigsparkstadion 16,003
1. FC Schweinfurt Schweinfurt Riedel Bau Arena 15,662
VfB Stuttgart II Aspach WIRmachenDRUCK Arena2 10,001
SSV Ulm Ulm Donaustadion 17,400
SC Verl Verl Sportclub Arena 5,207
Wehen Wiesbaden Wiesbaden BRITA-Arena 15,295

1 TSV Havelse will play their home matches at the Eilenriedestadion since their home stadium, the Wilhelm-Langrehr-Stadion in Garbsen, did not meet 3. Liga standards. They will move to the Heinz von Heiden Arena for high-risk matches.[3]
2 VfB Stuttgart II will play their home matches at the WIRmachenDRUCK Arena since their home stadium, the Robert-Schlienz-Stadion in Stuttgart, did not meet 3. Liga standards.[4]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Front Sleeve Back
Alemannia Aachen Germany Benedetto Muzzicato Germany Mika Hanraths Capelli Sport None Rotcom Gebr. Kutsch
Erzgebirge Aue Germany Jens Härtel Germany Martin Männel Nike Medical Beauty Research Erzgebirgssparkasse G&K Innenausbau
Energie Cottbus Germany Claus-Dieter Wollitz Germany Axel Borgmann Macron LEAG Sparkasse Spree-Neiße Koalick
MSV Duisburg Germany Dietmar Hirsch Germany Alexander Hahn Adidas trinkgut ZOXS Solarwelt
Rot-Weiss Essen Germany Uwe Koschinat Germany Michael Schultz Jako ifm Electronic Sparkasse Essen, Essener Chancen NEObetNEO.bet
TSV Havelse Germany Samir Ferchichi Germany Julius Düker Nike enercity None None
TSG Hoffenheim II Germany Stefan Kleineheismann Germany Valentin Lässig Joma SAP hep global None
FC Ingolstadt Germany Sabrina Wittmann Germany Lukas Fröde Erreà SI Electronics Audi Schanzer Fußballschule PROSIS GmbH
Viktoria Köln Germany Marian Wilhelm Germany Christoph Greger Capelli Sport Peynooş Wintec Autoglas ETL
Waldhof Mannheim Luxembourg Luc Holtz Germany Lukas Klünter Uhlsport Galeria None PLAZA Hotelgroup
1860 Munich Germany Patrick Glöckner Netherlands Jesper Verlaat Nike Die Bayerische Bet3000 Pangea Life
VfL Osnabrück Germany Timo Schultz Germany Jannik Müller Capelli Sport SO-TECH JOPA None
Jahn Regensburg Germany Michael Wimmer Germany Christian Kühlwetter Hummel Netto None None
Hansa Rostock Germany Daniel Brinkmann Germany Franz Pfanne Mizuno 28 Black H2Apex None
1. FC Saarbrücken Germany Alois Schwartz Germany Sven Sonnenberg Adidas Victor's Group LOTTO Saartoto Victor's Group
1. FC Schweinfurt Germany Victor Kleinhenz Germany Thomas Meißner Capelli Sport Wolf Möbel HYLO Helden-Projects
VfB Stuttgart II Germany Nico Willig Germany Dominik Nothnagel Jako Landesbank Baden-Württemberg Porsche None
SSV Ulm Germany Robert Lechleiter Germany Johannes Reichert Uhlsport Liqui Moly B-ITE E-Recruiting None
SC Verl Germany Tobias Strobl Germany Niko Kijewski Joma Beckhoff EGE GmbH None
Wehen Wiesbaden Germany Nils Döring Germany Fatih Kaya Capelli Sport Brita quickpaid None

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing Manner Exit date Position in table Incoming Incoming date Ref.
Announced on Departs on Announced on Arrived on
SC Verl Germany Alexander Ende End of contract 2 April 2025 30 June 2025 Pre-season Germany Tobias Strobl 20 May 2025 1 July 2025 [5][6]
Viktoria Köln Germany Olaf Janßen Signed by SV Sandhausen 7 May 2025 Germany Marian Wilhelm 29 May 2025 [7][8]
Jahn Regensburg Germany Munier Raychouni (interim) End of caretaker 8 May 2025 Germany Michael Wimmer 23 May 2025 [9][10]
VfL Osnabrück Germany Marco Antwerpen End of caretaker 30 May 2025 Germany Timo Schultz 17 June 2025 [11][12]
TSG Hoffenheim II Germany Vincent Wagner Signed by SV Elversberg 5 June 2025 Germany Stefan Kleineheismann 9 June 2025 [13][14]
VfB Stuttgart II Germany Markus Fiedler Signed by 1. FC Magdeburg 15 June 2025 Germany Nico Willig 15 June 2025 [15]
Alemannia Aachen Germany Heiner Backhaus Signed by Eintracht Braunschweig 17 June 2025 Germany Benedetto Muzzicato 25 June 2025 [16][17]
Waldhof Mannheim Austria Dominik Glawogger Sacked 11 August 2025 14th Luxembourg Luc Holtz 12 August 2025 [18][19]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 MSV Duisburg 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6 Promotion to 2. Bundesliga and qualification for DFB-Pokal
2 Energie Cottbus 2 1 1 0 5 3 +2 4
2 Wehen Wiesbaden 2 1 1 0 5 3 +2 4 Qualification for promotion play-offs and DFB-Pokal
4 1860 Munich 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 4 Qualification for DFB-Pokal
4 TSG Hoffenheim II[a] 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 4
6 1. FC Saarbrücken 2 1 1 0 5 4 +1 4
7 Hansa Rostock 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 4
8 Viktoria Köln 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 3
9 VfB Stuttgart II[a] 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
10 SSV Ulm 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3
11 SC Verl 2 0 2 0 4 4 0 2
12 Rot-Weiss Essen 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
13 TSV Havelse 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2
14 FC Ingolstadt 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
14 Waldhof Mannheim 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
16 Erzgebirge Aue 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
17 Alemannia Aachen 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 1 Relegation to Regionalliga
18 VfL Osnabrück 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
19 Jahn Regensburg 2 0 1 1 1 5 −4 1
20 1. FC Schweinfurt 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0
Updated to match(es) played on 10 August 2025. Source: DFB
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Away goals scored; 7) Play-off.[20]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion or DFB-Pokal qualification.

Results

Home \ Away AAC AUE COT DUI ESS HAV HOF ING KÖL MAN MUN OSN REG ROS SAA SCH STU ULM VER WIE
Alemannia Aachen 2–4
Erzgebirge Aue 0–0
Energie Cottbus 3–3
MSV Duisburg 2–1
Rot-Weiss Essen 1–1
TSV Havelse 1–1
TSG Hoffenheim II 0–0
FC Ingolstadt 1–1
Viktoria Köln 2–0
Waldhof Mannheim 2–2
1860 Munich 3–1
VfL Osnabrück 0–0
Jahn Regensburg 0–4
Hansa Rostock 1–0
1. FC Saarbrücken 2–1
1. FC Schweinfurt 0–2
VfB Stuttgart II 2–1
SSV Ulm 1–0
SC Verl 2–2
Wehen Wiesbaden 3–1
Updated to match(es) played on 10 August 2025. Source: DFB
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 10 August 2025[21]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Germany Patrick Sussek MSV Duisburg 3
Germany Berkan Taz SC Verl
3 Germany Kai Brünker 1. FC Saarbrücken 2
Germany Tolcay Ciğerci Energie Cottbus
Germany Felix Lohkemper Waldhof Mannheim
Germany Florian Niederlechner 1860 Munich
7 36 players 1

Clean sheets

As of 10 August 2025[22]
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Germany Benjamin Uphoff Hansa Rostock 2
2 Germany Elias Bethke Energie Cottbus 1
Germany Maximilian Braune MSV Duisburg
Germany Dudu Viktoria Köln
Sweden Lukas Jonsson VfL Osnabrück
Germany Martin Männel Erzgebirge Aue
Germany Jan Olschowsky Alemannia Aachen
Germany Yannick Onohiol TSG Hoffenheim II
Germany Tom Opitz TSV Havelse
Germany Christian Ortag SSV Ulm

References

  1. ^ "DFB veröffentlicht Rahmenterminkalender für die Saison 2025/26". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Spielplan 2025/2026 veröffentlicht: RWE und 1860 eröffnen Saison". dfb.de (in German). 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Bei Aufstieg in die 3. Liga: Havelse würde erneut nach Hannover ausweichen". Kicker (in German). 21 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Heimspielstätten stehen fest" (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Ende verlässt den Sportclub im Sommer!" (in German). SC Verl. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Tobias Strobl wird neuer Sportclub-Trainer!" (in German). SC Verl. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Olaf Janßen ab Sommer Sandhausen-Coach" (in German). Viktoria Köln. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Trainerteam steht – "Passen perfekt zur DNA"" (in German). Viktoria Köln. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ^ "SSV Jahn und Andreas Patz gehen ab sofort getrennte Wege" (in German). Jahn Regensburg. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Michael Wimmer wird neuer Chef-Trainer beim SSV Jahn" (in German). Jahn Regensburg. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ^ "VfL trennt sich von Antwerpen und Döpper" (in German). VfL Osnabrück. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Timo Schultz ist neuer Trainer des VfL Osnabrück" (in German). VfL Osnabrück. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Vincent Wagner wechselt als Cheftrainer zur SV Elversberg" (in German). TSG Hoffenheim. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  14. ^ ""Wir gehen konsequent den TSG-Weg": Kleineheismann coacht U23, weitere Trainer rücken auf" (in German). TSG Hoffenheim. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Markus Fiedler verlässt den VfB" (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Heiner Backhaus verlässt Alemannia Aachen" (in German). Alemannia Aachen. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Benedetto Muzzicato ist neuer Cheftrainer der Alemannia" (in German). Alemannia Aachen. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  18. ^ "SV Waldhof Mannheim 07 stellt Cheftrainer Dominik Glawogger frei" (in German). SV Waldhof Mannheim. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Luc Holtz ist neuer Cheftrainer des SV Waldhof Mannheim 07" (in German). SV Waldhof Mannheim. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Spielordnung" [Match rules] (PDF). dfb.de (in German). German Football Association (DFB). p. 71. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  21. ^ "3. Liga – Torjäger 2025–26" [3. Liga – Goalscorers 2025–26]. Kicker (in German).
  22. ^ "3. Liga – Torhüter 2025–26" [3. Liga – Goalkeepers 2025–26]. Kicker (in German).