Licensing Images: Women’s Football in Germany

In just a few decades, women’s football in Germany has moved from formal prohibition in the 1950s to the routines of the modern professional game. The story is one of resistance, pioneers, and structural reforms. Today, a league with growing audiences, clearer governance, and internationally competitive clubs reflects this shift. For readers across media, agencies, brands, NGOs, and education, this overview focuses on the sporting and structural core — the milestones, institutions, teams, players, and trends shaping the game.

Historical Milestones: From Ban to First Championship

In 1955, the German Football Association (DFB) banned women from playing within its clubs, citing outdated gender stereotypes and alleged health risks. Despite the ban, players organized their own teams and international friendlies; in 1956, an unofficial “national side” drew 18,000 spectators in Essen. On October 31, 1970, the DFB lifted the ban, initially with restrictions: shorter match duration, a winter break, and lighter balls. Progress accelerated immediately. In 1974, TuS Wörrstadt won the first official national championship; Bärbel Wohlleben’s goal was later voted “Goal of the Month” on national television — an early sign of recognition.

IMAGO / HMB-Media / GER, Leipzig, Soccer, Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, Matchday 11, RB Leipzig vs. VFL Wolfsburg in the picture from left: Camilla Kuever (VFL Wolfsburg 16), cutout, 23.11.2025, RB Leipzig Training Academy, Cottaweg Leipzig.

Institutions and League Architecture

Following the 1989 European title, the DFB invested in robust structures. The Women’s Bundesliga launched in 1990/91 with separate North and South divisions; in 1997 it was consolidated into a single-division league with twelve clubs, a move that raised standards and reduced disparities. The Women’s DFB-Pokal has been contested since 1981, alongside systematic investment in youth development and national teams. The next turning point is set: from 2025/26 the Bundesliga will expand from twelve to fourteen clubs, with 2024/25 as a transition season featuring one relegated side and three promoted teams. The aim is broader competition and more minutes for emerging talent.

IMAGO / Claus Bergmann / Goal celebration by the Cologne ladies after Adriana ACHCINSKA's goal for 1-3 in the Women's Football Pixel Bundesliga on Mon. 08.12.2025, 12th matchday Hamburger SV - 1. FC Köln.

Clubs and Dynasties

The early 1990s were led by pioneers like TSV Siegen. From the late 1990s, 1. FFC Frankfurt dominated domestically and in Europe — seven league titles and four continental crowns. Turbine Potsdam set benchmarks in the 2000s; Duisburg won the UEFA Cup in 2009. Since the 2010s, major men’s Bundesliga clubs with strong women’s programs have set the pace: VfL Wolfsburg built a title-winning dynasty with multiple doubles and two Champions League trophies; FC Bayern München added championships in 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2023. Structural integration also advanced — in 2020, 1. FFC Frankfurt joined Eintracht Frankfurt — delivering financial and infrastructural benefits that lifted the league’s standard.

IMAGO / Zink / 1. Women's Soccer Bundesliga - Matchday 11: 1. FC Nuremberg FCN (Club) - SG Eintracht Frankfurt SGE - Sports photo Zink DaMa - xdaxmax - Celebration joy after the game - Aleigh Gambone (16, 1. FC Nuremberg FCN) Franziska Mai (18, 1. FC Nuremberg FCN) FCN team celebrating joy after the game.

National Team: Titles and Influence

Since the late 1980s, Germany’s women have been world-class. After the first European title in 1989, the team amassed eight European championships and won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007. Olympic gold followed in 2016. Setbacks — an early exit at the 2011 home World Cup and a group-stage elimination in 2023 — did not alter the broader picture: Germany remains the only nation to win both World and European titles in men’s and women’s football. These successes built visibility and benchmarks across the sport.

IMAGO / Claus Bergmann / Celebration after the final whistle by the players from Cologne, here Laura Vogt and Vanessa Leimenstoll (center) and Adriana Achcinska celebrate Football Pixel Bundesliga Women on Mon. 08.12.2025 Matchday 12 Hamburger SV - 1. FC Cologne.

Players Who Defined Eras

Birgit Prinz represents the golden 2000s: a multi-time World Player of the Year, record scorer, multiple Champions League winner with Frankfurt, and a leading figure in the 2003 and 2007 World Cup triumphs.
Dzsenifer Marozsán embodies the playmaker generation of the 2010s: European champion in 2013, Olympic gold in 2016, and a central role in Olympique Lyon’s era of European dominance.
Alexandra Popp anchors the recent era: a leader at VfL Wolfsburg with league and cup streaks, Olympic gold in 2016, and captain during the run to the Euro 2022 final. Her retirement from the national team at the end of 2023 marked a generational handover.

IMAGO / foto2press / from left: Elena Mühlemann (FC Carl Zeiss Jena, 30) and Medina Desic (SV Werder Bremen, 9) in a duel, dynamic action, scene from the game.

Public Perception, Media, and Attendance

For years, women’s football was niche: the first live TV broadcast came only in 1989, and even by 2003 total airtime remained limited. Since the 2011 home World Cup — and especially after Euro 2022 — audiences and reach have grown markedly. In 2023/24, the Women’s Bundesliga drew 379,653 spectators across 132 matches, a new record, with an average near 2,900. Larger arenas are used for selected fixtures, attracting five-figure crowds. In 2025, a DFB-Pokal semi-final set a new domestic club record with 57,000 spectators. Media coverage is broader than ever: from 2023/24 all league matches are streamed live, with selected top games on free-to-air TV reaching audiences in the millions. Sponsors have taken notice; Google became naming-rights partner (Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga), alongside established automotive and financial partners.

IMAGO / Lobeca / Felix Schlikis / Soccer I Women I Season 2025-2026 I Bundesliga I Matchday 12 I Hamburger SV - 1. FC Köln I 08.12.2025 Lotta Wrede (32, Hamburger SV) with the ball Hamburg Volkspark, Volksparkstadion, Stadium, Volkspark-Stadion Hamburg Germany.

Professionalization and the Economic Reality

For decades, pay gaps — from bonuses to salaries — were stark. Today, base salaries and club revenues are rising. In 2023/24, the average monthly base salary in the Bundesliga was around €4,000; top players at well-resourced clubs or abroad can reach five-figure monthly sums. Aggregate club revenues recently surpassed €31 million, driven by sponsorship and international prize money. Still, the to-do list is substantial: professional infrastructures, medical support, full-time staff, and sustained marketing are essential to keep pace with England, France, and Spain. The equal-pay debate continues; the practical focus remains on improving conditions across the board.

Outlook: Depth, Talent, Competitiveness

Expanding to fourteen clubs from 2025/26 is designed to broaden competition and create more top-level minutes for young players. Youth programs are growing within elite academies, while scouting and coach education are being upgraded. After the 2023 World Cup wake-up call, the national team looks ahead with a blend of experience and talents such as Lena Oberdorf, Jule Brand, and Klara Bühl. The key will be converting momentum into stable structures and steady growth.

Conclusion

From the 1950s ban to record-breaking seasons in the 2020s, Germany’s journey in women’s football has been driven by persistence, structural reform, and a steadily expanding audience. Clubs and the federation have initiated professionalization, the league is gaining breadth and visibility, and the national team remains a reference point despite recent dips. To remain internationally competitive, the sport needs reliable investment, strong pathways for youth, and continued access to major venues. The foundations are in place; the coming years will determine how firmly women’s football cements its status as a permanent part of the professional sports landscape.

IMAGO: Image Content and Licensing — concise and fact‑based

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