Independent Women's Bundesliga: Katharina Kiel sends strong star signal

While the German Football Association (DFB) hands over responsibility for the women's Bundesliga from 1 July 2027, the fourteen top‑division clubs receive new powers for self‑organisation and marketing, as Katharina Kiel, president of the newly founded women's Bundesliga association (FBL), emphasises. The step marks a strong signal for women's football in Germany and opens a new path of professionalisation for players such as Klara Bühl (r).

Independent Organisation and Financial Framework

The women's Bundesliga will organise itself independently from 1 July 2027; the responsibility shifts from the DFB to the women's Bundesliga association FBL e. V., which was founded in December. All fourteen top‑division clubs will take over self‑governance following the model of the men's Bundesliga, while the DFB remains responsible for the women's 2. Liga.

Under a lease and ground‑rent agreement, the DFB will pay the FBL €1.4 million annually. In years with the women's Euro or World Cup, the payment increases by €200 000. In addition, the FBL receives 50 percent of any possible economic surplus from the women's national team final tournaments.

Leadership, Rights and Future Visions

At the head of the board sits Frankfurt boss Katharina Kiel, followed by first vice‑president Veronica Saß (FC Bayern) and second vice‑president Klaus Filbry (SV Werder Bremen). The FBL is currently looking for a managing director for the yet to be founded FBL GmbH, with a dual‑leadership similar to the men's league also being discussed.

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The previous TV contract from 2023 to 2027 guaranteed €5.17 million per year. The new rights are to be awarded over a two‑year period; the tender will be announced in the week of 28 September. The FBL may allocate the television rights itself and must pay a lease fee of 3 percent to the DFB, as well as 1 percent for training compensation to the clubs. From the summer of 2030, the DFB's regional and state associations will also receive 1.5 percent of the TV revenues.

Impact on Clubs and Competition

All clubs must release their players for the women's and junior women's national teams; the costs for referees will be shared between the DFB and the FBL. The DFB commits to paying each club at least €100 000 per year for certified performance centres in women's and girls' football, while an additional €500 000 per year will be provided for the targeted development of young players.

Katharina Kiel has already presented ideas for possible changes to the competition format, such as abolishing the Monday matchday, multiple parallel games for a conference system, or playoffs modelled on basketball and ice hockey. Criticism of a possible knockout duel for the championship came from serial champions FC Bayern and vice‑champions VfL Wolfsburg.