Bavarian Football Association sets new membership record

Football in Bavaria is experiencing a boom, with the Bavarian Football Association (BFV) announcing a record number of members exceeding 1.8 million. This new peak signifies a robust recovery and continued growth for Bavaria's largest sports association and a major regional body within the German Football Association (DFB).

BFV President Christoph Kern attributed the record-breaking figures to the "great commitment of our clubs" and targeted measures by the BFV. He noted that many children returned to the pitch after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the association's initiatives to boost girls' and women's football have shown "sustainable impact."

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The football in Bavaria continues to grow. The record membership numbers and the increasing number of teams are the result of the great commitment of our clubs as well as targeted measures by the BFV.

"The current statistics show that both initiatives are having a sustainable impact. At the same time, attracting new players and supporting our clubs remain central future tasks," Kern stated. The association saw a year-on-year increase of over 7 percent, adding 131,354 new members. The number of registered teams also grew, with a particularly positive development in girls' and women's football.

Significant growth was observed in younger age categories, with C-Juniors showing a substantial increase of approximately 45,900 members compared to the previous year. The number of female players and teams also reached new heights, with 1,554 registered women's teams and nearly 34,000 active female players. The association also reported record numbers in coach qualifications, with 4,578 licenses issued in 2025, a 34% increase from the prior year, and a rise in active referees to 11,387.

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The current statistics show that both initiatives are having a sustainable impact. At the same time, attracting new players and supporting our clubs remain central future tasks.