Standing tickets return for Germany’s national team matches
At the edge of the Augsburg stadium, a sea of fans prepares to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder, the roar already building as the German national team prepares to take the field. From today, the DFB is selling standing tickets for Jürgen Klopp’s first two matches in Bavaria, reviving the atmosphere that many supporters have missed.
The last time German fans celebrated from the terraces was on 30 May 1998 at the Frankfurt Waldstadium, when Oliver Bierhoff (two goals) and Andreas Möller found the net in a 3‑1 win over Colombia. That historic moment is cited as a reminder of the energy standing places can bring to a national team match.
Ticket details and match schedule
Public ticket sales open at 10:00 a.m. for the Nations League clash against Greece in Augsburg on 27 September, and at 14:00 p.m. for the Serbia game in Munich on 1 October. Standing tickets cost €18, with a €15 price for members of the national team fan club, who have been able to purchase since 13 August via the DFB ticket portal.
Augsburg’s stadium will host roughly 10 000 standing places, including the guest sector, while Munich offers about 8 000 standing spots for German fans; Serbian supporters are barred from that area by a UEFA ban.
Safety, policy and fan reaction
Following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which claimed 97 lives, FIFA and UEFA moved international fixtures to all‑seater stadiums. Domestic leagues in Germany retained standing sections, and English Premier‑League clubs have been allowed a limited number of standing places since 2022. The UEFA Executive Committee’s decision, backed by an observation programme now extended to the 2026/27 season, permits the DFB to re‑introduce standing tickets for national team matches.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said, “The desire for standing places at international matches has been great, and they are an important part of fan culture and the stadium experience in Germany.”
Supporters’ group “Unsere Kurve” welcomed the move. Spokesperson Thomas Kessen told dpa, “Standing areas provide the space needed for lively fan culture and make football accessible to fans with smaller budgets,” while cautioning that the atmosphere will develop over years, not overnight.
Heiko Teggatz, federal chairman of the German Police Union, added that modern video technology remains “an indispensable instrument for identifying offenders and ensuring the safety of all stadium visitors.”
Standing tickets will also be available for the women’s national team and the U21 side. Under head coach Christian Wück, the women will play test matches on 9 October in Karlsruhe against Australia and on 13 October in Bremen against Japan, with roughly 9 800 standing places in Karlsruhe and just over 6 000 in Bremen.