The 2019–20 Verbandspokal, (English: 2019–20 Association Cup) consisted of twenty-one regional cup competitions, the Verbandspokale, the qualifying competition for the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal, the German Cup.[1]
All clubs from the 3. Liga and below could enter the regional Verbandspokale, subject to the rules and regulations of each region. Clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga could not enter but were instead directly qualified for the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Reserve teams are not permitted to take part in the DFB-Pokal or the Verbandspokale. The precise rules of each regional Verbandspokal are laid down by the regional football association organising it.[2][3]
All twenty-one winners qualified for the first round of the German Cup in the following season. Three additional clubs also qualified for the first round of the German Cup, these being from the three largest state associations, Bavaria, Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths, one for teams from the 3. Liga and the Regionalliga Nord and one for the teams from lower leagues. The winners of both paths qualified for the DFB-Pokal. In Bavaria the best-placed Regionalliga Bayern non-reserve team qualified for the DFB-Pokal while in Westphalia a play-off was conducted to determine this club.[1]
The finals of the Verbandspokal competitions, originally scheduled for 23 May 2020, were postponed to later dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.[4] On 9 July, the new date was set for 22 August[5] except in Bavaria, where its date was published six days later as 5 September.[6]
Competitions
The finals of the 2019–20 Verbandspokal competitions (winners listed in bold):
^As one of the three largest regional associations, Bavaria gets an additional DFB-Pokal berth, which goes to the best non-reserve team of the Regionalliga Bayern.[7]
^As one of the three largest regional associations, Lower Saxony gets an additional DFB-Pokal berth, which goes to the winner of the second cup path.[8]
^The Saxony-Anhalt Cup was abandoned on 15 July 2020. 1. FC Magdeburg was awarded the DFB-Pokal berth.[9]
^As one of the three largest regional associations, Westphalia gets an additional DFB-Pokal berth, which goes to the winner of a play-off between the best-placed team in the Regionalliga West and the winner of the Oberliga Westfalen.[7]
