August kickoff: Only Wolfsburg and Heidenheim in 2. Bundesliga

Under the bright lights of the Ruhr, VfL Bochum and Hertha Berlin will open the 2. Bundesliga season on 7 August, marking the first matches of a campaign that sees only a handful of clubs returning to the second tier in German football.

Last season, Wolfsburg were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history after 29 years in the top flight. They are set for their eighth season in 2. Bundesliga. The Lower Saxony side last played in the second tier in the 1996/97 season.

Heidenheim suffered their first relegation under head coach Frank Schmidt, who has been in charge for 19 years. The club is about to embark on its 10th season in 2. Bundesliga.

St. Pauli have played the second‑highest number of 2. Bundesliga matches (1,130). Only Greuther Fürth have played more (1,262).

Forty‑nine of the 154 teams relegated from the Bundesliga managed to secure immediate promotion back to the top tier, a 32 % success rate. The last team to achieve this was Cologne in 2025.

Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and St. Pauli are the 155th, 156th and 157th teams to be relegated in the history of the Bundesliga.