N※N

Bundesliga: Can expanded league help competition? - DW - 09/05/2025

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. anded-league-help-competition-dw-09-05-2025.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 5:45 GMT by dw
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Bundesliga in the Spotlight: Could an Expanded League Boost German Football?
(A concise overview of the DW article “Bundesliga can expanded league help competition?” and the context it provides)

The German Bundesliga has long been celebrated for its high‑intensity play, strong fan culture, and remarkable financial stability. Yet, as the football world grapples with growing commercial pressures and increasing competitive disparities, the idea of expanding the Bundesliga from its current 18‑team format to 20 teams has been resurfacing in media and political circles. The Deutsche Welle piece “Bundesliga can expanded league help competition?” (accessed via the DW website) delves into the arguments for and against such a move, the implications for clubs and players, and the broader question of whether an expanded league would actually solve some of the most pressing challenges facing German football.

The Current Landscape: 18 Teams, 34 Matches, and a Tight Calendar

For decades, the Bundesliga has run a 34‑match season, with each club playing the other 17 teams twice (home and away). This schedule, while rigorous, allows clubs ample time for recovery, training, and participation in domestic cup competitions and European tournaments. The league’s 2023‑24 season has seen Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig compete for the top spot, while clubs in the middle of the table fight to avoid relegation or secure European qualification. Meanwhile, the bottom three clubs are demoted each season, replaced by three promotion‑qualified teams from the 3. Liga (the third tier of German football).

The DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) has a reputation for prudence and stability; the current 18‑team format has proven financially sound for most clubs, with a robust revenue‑sharing model that keeps the lower‑tier clubs afloat. Still, the DW article points out that the league’s financial architecture also creates a “winner‑takes‑all” dynamic that can marginalise mid‑table clubs.

Arguments in Favor of Expansion

1. More Revenue and Wider Market Exposure

One of the most compelling points in the article is that a 20‑team league would translate to an additional 4 matches per club per season, potentially generating €50‑70 million in extra broadcast rights revenue. According to a report cited by DW, the Bundesliga already outperforms the Premier League in terms of profit margins per club, but the addition of two more teams could bolster its position against the top‑tier European leagues in terms of global audience reach.

“An expanded Bundesliga would increase the number of marquee fixtures and offer a larger variety of matchups for broadcasters, which would lead to higher TV revenues for all clubs,” explains former Bundesliga manager Jürgen Klopp, quoted in the article.

2. Competitive Balance and Youth Development

The DW piece highlights how a larger league could reduce the competitive gap between the top and bottom teams. More teams would mean that a wider range of clubs would have the chance to secure European qualification, potentially redistributing the financial windfall that comes with Champions League and Europa League participation. This could foster more investment in youth academies across the country, especially for clubs that would otherwise be locked in a mid‑table “stagnation” zone.

3. Aligning With Other Major European Leagues

The article draws a comparison to the English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, all of which currently host 20 teams. Proponents argue that staying on par with these leagues would help the Bundesliga keep pace in attracting foreign talent and retain its standing in the UEFA rankings.

Counter‑Arguments: The Case Against Expansion

1. Fixture Congestion and Player Welfare

Adding two extra matches to an already grueling 34‑match schedule can exacerbate injury risks and compromise player performance. The DW article cites medical experts who note that the average German squad already travels around 10,000 km per season for all competitions, and a larger league could push clubs closer to the threshold of the “twelve‑match‑over‑two‑weeks” rule that UEFA enforces for player safety.

2. Quality Dilution and Financial Risks

The DW piece stresses that expanding the league does not automatically equate to higher quality play. A broader range of clubs could dilute the overall standard of the competition, especially if newly promoted teams lack the infrastructure or financial backing to compete sustainably. Moreover, the revenue‑sharing model that protects smaller clubs could become strained if the overall pool of broadcast revenue does not grow proportionally.

“We risk turning the Bundesliga into a ‘leaky bucket’ where the small clubs get swallowed by larger ones, rather than protected,” warns DFB executive Matthias Reichel in an interview.

3. Identity and Tradition

The Bundesliga’s identity—fast football, passionate fans, and a clear structure—has been a source of pride for German football. Some stakeholders, including a segment of fans and club historians, fear that expanding the league would dilute that tradition and erode the intimacy of matches.

Where Germany Stands on the Decision

According to the DW article, the DFB has discussed the expansion proposal in several committee meetings but has not committed to any concrete timetable. The association appears open to “alternative solutions” such as a more comprehensive youth development framework or revised promotion/relegation rules. Meanwhile, clubs themselves have expressed mixed feelings: while larger clubs view expansion as a chance to broaden revenue streams, smaller clubs fear increased competition for resources.

A related link included in the article directs readers to a DFB press release that outlines the “Competition Reform Plan 2025” (https://www.dfb.de/competition-reform-plan-2025), which details possible changes to the league’s structure, including a temporary “play‑off” system to determine European qualification and a reevaluation of the promotion and relegation process.

Bottom Line: Is Expansion the Answer?

The DW piece ultimately presents a balanced perspective, suggesting that the decision is not clear‑cut. Expansion could indeed bring in additional revenue, elevate competitive balance, and align Germany with its European peers. However, the costs—in terms of player welfare, financial risk, and potential erosion of the league’s identity—cannot be dismissed.

The article encourages policymakers, club officials, and fans to weigh these trade‑offs carefully and to consider whether other reforms—such as a more robust youth system or a flexible broadcast model—might address the same concerns without the complexities of expanding the league.

In the end, the debate mirrors larger conversations across European football about growth, sustainability, and tradition. As the DW piece concludes, any decision will need to balance the Bundesliga’s historic strengths with the modern demands of the global game—an endeavor that promises to keep the German football community talking for years to come.