The 2. Bundesliga’s new season is set to kick off with a traditional showdown between FC Schalke 04 and Hertha BSC, the German Football League announced on Friday. The match is scheduled to start at 8:30 pm on August 1 in Schalke’s Arena. The full schedules for the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga are expected to be published on the following Friday afternoon.
Earlier on Thursday, it was revealed that the top-tier league will open the 2025/26 season with a high-profile match between the record champion FC Bayern München and RB Leipzig. In contrast, the 2nd Bundesliga is set to begin three weeks earlier, on August 22.