Matches involving the German national football team are always something special for football fans in this country. Whether it’s a friendly match, a qualifier or a competitive match at the European Championship or World Cup – millions of viewers always watch the DFB’s performances on television. International match tickets for Germany are correspondingly popular – while the opportunities are rare.
If the national team is playing in its own country, tickets for the respective stadium usually sell out quickly. Meanwhile, numerous offers can be found on ticket exchanges. This will be all the more true for the upcoming Euro 2024. So if you want to get your hands on DFB tickets for a German international match soon, you should check all the options in advance – and then possibly be quick.
Current tickets for the German national team
These are the upcoming international matches of the German national team:
How do you get DFB tickets?
The first port of call for international match tickets for the German men’s team as well as the international matches of all other German teams is the DFB itself. To be more precise, it presents various addresses on its website where tickets for German international matches are available:
- Directly in the online ticket shop on the website
- By telephone via a ticket hotline
- Über den Heimverein des Stadions, in dem das Spiel stattfindet
- About the home club of the stadium where the match is being played
- The ticket portals Reservix and Adticket
Whilst these are the official points of sale, so to speak, the external secondary market on the Internet remains a much frequented option. More on this later.
When are Germany tickets available for an international match?
The time at which advance sales for Germany tickets begin can vary from match to match. In the case of friendly matches, test matches or qualifying matches, the exact date and venue are usually fixed at least 4 weeks before the match. From then on, the DFB website will also provide further information on purchasing tickets.
The situation is of course different for World Cups and European Championships. FIFA and UEFA as the umbrella organisations play a role in these, as does the football association of the country in which the tournament is taking place. Tickets for a World Cup or European Championship are therefore initially available to buy several months before a competition – even before the exact groups and fixtures have been finalised. However, due to the high demand, this is done via an application and lottery procedure. There is usually never a free sale.
Only later do the associations of the individual national teams have a small contingent of tickets for the individual international matches to allocate. Logically, these are then sold out immediately, with lotteries also deciding who gets a ticket. For these reasons alone, the secondary market for tickets is always worth a look.
How much do tickets for Germany’s international matches cost?
If you want to buy tickets for the German national team, you should generally expect higher prices. This already applies to friendly matches. Especially for high-profile matches against other major football nations, ticket prices of up to 100 euros for full-paying tickets in the most expensive ticket category are not uncommon.
On the other hand, there are cheaper categories for tickets with a rather small number of seats, where prices can start at 20 euros. Ultimately, the occasion of the match, the opponent and possibly the venue are decisive for the exact prices – it is therefore hardly possible to give an all-inclusive price.
What is certain, however, is that tickets for a Germany international match are considerably more expensive if it is a European Championship or World Cup match.
Are there discounted tickets for Germany’s international matches?
As is usual in the Bundesliga, for example, the DFB also offers international match tickets at reduced prices. This can be a price difference of 20 euros or the price of the lowest ticket category. Within the scope of availability, fans are entitled to a discount:
- Children up to 16 years
- Pupils, trainees and students
- Pensioner
- Persons with a severe disability from 50% GDB
There is also the National Team Fan Club. Members of the FCN receive cheaper tickets for some of the national team’s matches. In the past, membership of the Fan Club Nationalmannschaft even offered a right of first refusal on tickets for international matches at the European Championship or World Cup.
However, this procedure was heavily criticised publicly, so it is doubtful whether FCN members will again receive preferential treatment for Euro 2024. However, the bonus system will remain in place for friendlies and qualifying matches for the time being.
Germany international match – tickets from the secondary market safe?
As already mentioned, the rush for tickets for international matches is enormous, especially during the World Cup and European Championships. Especially as tickets are mainly allocated to fans by lottery, even before the exact matches have been finalised. For these reasons, there are always many ticket offers on ticket exchanges such as Viagogo or StubHub, but also on social media and on Ebay or classified ads.
However, DFB tickets on the secondary market are generally not uncommon. These are simply private individuals reselling their tickets. This is absolutely legal for buyers and there is no reason to be sceptical about the purchase. Interested parties should bear a few points in mind when buying:
- Many sellers offer their tickets for higher prices than usual – this applies all the more to international match tickets for the European Championship or World Cup.
- Secure payment options such as PayPal or purchase on account are always preferable. Especially with Ebay and classified adverts, bank transfers are a risk.
- If the tickets are hardcover tickets and not mobile tickets, insured shipping should be used.
- Ideally, sellers can verify the authenticity/validity of the ticket (e.g. by providing proof of purchase).
- If the tickets are personalised, it should be possible to change the personal data.
It is particularly important to pay attention to these aspects on social platforms, classified adverts and eBay. This is because the transaction takes place directly from private person to private person and unfortunately there are actually fraudsters who demand bank transfers and then send false tickets or no tickets at all.
With ticket exchanges, on the other hand, Viagogo and the like act as intermediaries between seller and buyer, so that a certain degree of reliability is guaranteed here. Especially if secure payment methods offer buyer protection, there is nothing to be said against a purchase. Paying a possibly high price for a ticket is always the decision of the buyer.
Are the tickets for Germany’s international match personalised?
Personalised tickets are now standard in many Bundesliga and European club competitions. However, tickets for the German national team are rarely personalised. However, this can sometimes happen, while personalised tickets are to be expected for the European Championship and World Cup. Personalised international match tickets would theoretically mean that only the person named on the ticket is entitled to enter the stadium.
However, experience shows that data checks are hardly ever carried out at matches at club level despite ticket personalisation. After all, it must be borne in mind that tens of thousands of spectators enter the stadium for a match in a short space of time. It is practically impossible to check all tickets and their holders. Nevertheless, if it is possible to transfer personal data, this should always be used for security reasons.
Are VIP tickets available for Germany’s international matches?
Experiencing an international match live in the stadium is already something special for every enthusiastic football fan. However, a visit to the stadium with VIP status is an absolute highlight. VIP tickets for the national team are generally available for every match, provided the stadium has the appropriate areas available. Of course, this is always the case at German stadiums.
If you want to buy an international match VIP ticket, you usually have to contact the home club of the stadium where the match is being played. In rare cases, however, the DFB also offers VIP tickets. Detailed information will be available as soon as tickets go on sale.
The price of VIP tickets for international matches is of course much higher than for normal tickets, just like for club matches. For European Championship and World Cup matches, this can also amount to several thousand euros.
When will Germany tickets for Euro 2024 be available?
The most popular tickets for German international matches will soon be those for Euro 2024. It is not yet clear which and how many options there will be for fans. The draw for the groups and group matches will not take place until 2 December 2023. However, tickets will go on sale earlier.
The first sales phase for European Championship tickets will take place via UEFA from 3 October to 26 October. As always, interested parties must then apply to purchase tickets and hope for luck in the lottery. A maximum of four tickets can be purchased per person. After the group draw in December, there will then be a further sales phase, which will most likely involve another application and lottery procedure.
The DFB will then also receive a ticket contingent alongside all other participating national associations. It is not yet clear how much of this will go on sale to German fans and how this will be organised. It is possible that some of the German European Championship tickets will initially go to members of the Fan Club Nationalmannschaft, meaning that they will have the right of first refusal. Otherwise, it is also conceivable that tickets will be allocated by lot.
How much do tickets for the national team for Euro 2024 cost?
A total of 2.7 million tickets are available for the 2024 European Championship. One million of these will be split between the individual national associations, while UEFA will keep 500,000 – for sponsors, partners, officials and so on. This leaves 1.2 million EURO tickets for free sale, as described above.
The price level for tickets set by UEFA has already been determined. Firstly, a distinction has to be made between tickets for the opening match, the group stage and the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. Then there are a total of four ticket categories that determine the exact price:
- “Fans first”: 30 euros in the group stage – then 50, 60, 80 and 95 euros until the final
- Category 3: 60 euros in the group stage – then 85, 100, 195 and 300 euros up to the final
- Category 2: 150 euros in the group stage – then 175, 200, 400 and 600 euros up to the final
- Category 1: 200 euros in the group stage – then 250, 300, 600 and 1,000 euros up to the final.
The prices for the opening match are the same as for the semi-final. The “Fans First” category consists of a small number of tickets for seats behind the goals in the lower tier. However, it is to be expected that only members of the Fan Club Nationalmannschaft will benefit from the favourable price.
All these prices are initially those that will apply in the upcoming sales phases via UEFA. It is very likely that the DFB will also stick to these ticket prices. On the secondary market, however, tickets will be even more expensive, and even more so for Germany’s international matches. Either way, the demand is far greater than the supply – so if you really want to be there, you should be quick.
The history of the German national football team
From 1898 to 1901, unofficial international football matches were played between French and English teams. The German Football Association no longer counts these games as official matches, but they are usually referred to as the original international matches. Walther Bensemann organised all of these competitions and is regarded as an important early figure in German football history.
The primary goal of the German Football Association was to set up a “permanent national team” as early as 1900. Unfortunately, they repeatedly failed to finance a national team and organise an international match. Nevertheless, football became increasingly popular over time. After not being able to take part in the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the goal shifted to organising a team for the 1912 Olympic football tournament.
The German national football team played its first international match against the French national team in 1931, after the end of the French occupation of the Rhineland. Although the First World War had already ended by this time, relations between Germany and France were still tense. In the French press, the German players were compared to stormtroopers.
The DFB, like other European countries, did not take part in the first World Cup. The reason for this was the high cost and time required for the journey – the sea voyage for four participating European teams took over two weeks. The DFB never gave an official reason for cancelling participation.
The National Socialist racial policy was not only directed against active and former national football players. Jewish players were also banned from playing and removed from many German football statistics. Some national players, such as Gottfried Fuchs, were forced to leave the country. Others, like Julius Hirsch, became victims of the Holocaust.
The DFB did not want to talk about this part of its history until the 1970s. Sepp Herberger wanted to invite the record goalscorer Fuchs, “his football idol”, who lived in Canada, to the inauguration of the Munich Olympic Stadium in 1972. However, Fuchs declined for unclear reasons.
The German national team was not allowed to take part in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. They were able to take part in the qualifiers for the 1954 World Cup for the first time. The team did well and won against Saarland and Norway.
Austria also lost their game in the semi-final. This was followed by what was called the “Miracle of Bern” They won the 1954 World Cup by beating Hungary 3:2 in the final. As they had previously lost 8-3 to Hungary in the preliminary round, many thought victory was impossible.
In 1974, the national team won the World Cup for the second time. In the preliminary round of the tournament, Jürgen Sparwasser scored a goal to win 1-0 against the eventual world champions. This victory was very important for football history.
On 22 June 1974, two German teams played each other for the first time. After the West Germans had won 2:1 against the Dutch, they thanked the East German team for the defeat. This defeat was the catalyst for the West German team’s revolt against their coach Helmut Schön. The players thought he was too indecisive and hesitant. The team captain Beckenbauer led the revolt and was allowed to determine the team’s tactics.
Which outstanding coaches were allowed to mould the German team?
In the early days, the national team had no coach. The teams were put together according to the proportional representation of the various national associations. Invitations to international matches were not based on ability or success. Rather, a quota system was used that allocated certain positions to certain national associations.
The line-up and tactics were determined by the match committee or the team captain on site. However, there were hardly any trained coaches at the time, which could explain why the national team only won 16 of its first 58 international matches. 12 ended in a draw, while 30 were lost – including the highest defeat of 0:9. On a positive note, the highest victory was also achieved during this period.
After the team’s elimination from the 1936 Olympic Games, Sepp Herberger became the second Reich coach and the first national coach of the German Football Association (DFB). Although he had already coached the German national team twice, only the international match against Italy on 15 November 1936 counts as his first match in the revised DFB statistics.
After just 16 games under his presidency, the German team celebrated its biggest victory to date against Denmark (8:0), which was soon followed by another big win against Sweden (5:0). On the instructions of the government, he had to bolster the German team for the 1938 World Cup with players from Austria.
Herberger’s team did not do well in the first round against Switzerland, but he kept his job until 1942, when the Second World War began and international matches were cancelled. As Reich coach during the war, he coached the national team 65 times and suffered 13 defeats. One of his assistants was Emil Melcher.
Franz Beckenbauer was appointed team manager, although he did not have a coaching licence. Initially his assistant Horst Köppel was the coach, but in 1987 Holger Osieck became coach. In 1986 the German national team took part in the World Cup in Mexico. Under Beckenbauer’s leadership, they finished second (the DFB team lost 3:2 to Argentina).
In 1988, the European Championship took place in Germany. The German national team reached the semi-finals. In 1990, Beckenbauer led the German team to win the World Cup in Italy. This made him very successful: he became world champion and runner-up as a player and team manager respectively. As team manager, he had a record of 34 wins, 20 draws and 12 defeats in 66 games.