The 2022–23 DFB-Pokal was the 42nd season of the annual German football cup competition. Forty-eight teams participated in the competition, including all teams from the previous year's Frauen-Bundesliga and the 2. Frauen-Bundesliga, excluding second teams. The competition began on 21 August 2021 with the first of six rounds and ended on 18 May 2022 with the final at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, a nominally neutral venue, which has hosted the final since 2010.[1]
VfL Wolfsburg were the eight-time defending champions and defended their title with a 4–1 win over SC Freiburg.[2]
Participating clubs
The following clubs qualified for the competition:
^The second teams of Eintracht Frankfurt, 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg were not eligible.
^The second teams of Turbine Potsdam, 1. FC Köln and SC Freiburg were not eligible and were replaced by the respective second-placed team.
^Viktoria Berlin qualified regardless of the outcome of the Berlin Cup final, as Türkiyemspor Berlin, the other finalists, already qualified via the Regionalliga.
^Eimsbütteler TV qualified regardless of the outcome of the Hamburg Cup final, as Hamburger SV, the other finalists, already qualified via the Regionalliga.
^Jahn Calden qualified regardless of the outcome of the Saxony Cup final, as Eintracht Frankfurt III, the other finalists, were ineligible.
^1. FC Riegelsberg qualified regardless of the outcome of the Saarland Cup final, as 1. FC Saarbrücken, the other finalists, already qualified via the Regionalliga.
^Chemnitzer FC qualified regardless of the outcome of the Saxony Cup final, as RB Leipzig II, the other finalists, were ineligible.
^Saalfeld Titans qualified regardless of the outcome of the Saxony Cup final, as Carl Zeiss Jena II, the other finalists, were ineligible.
Format
Clubs from lower leagues hosted against clubs from higher leagues until the quarter-finals. Should both clubs play below the 2. Bundesliga, there was no host club change anymore.
Schedule
The rounds of the 2022–23 competition were scheduled as follows:[1]
Times up to 29 October 2022 and from 26 March 2023 are CEST (UTC+2). Times from 30 October 2022 to 25 March 2023 are CET (UTC+1).
First round
The draw was made on 1 July 2022, with Sabine Mammitzsch drawing the matches.[3][4] The teams were split in a North and South group. The matches took place between 20 and 22 August 2022. All clubs from the 2021–22 Frauen-Bundesliga and the four best-placed teams from the 2021–22 2. Frauen-Bundesliga received a bye.
The draw was held on 22 August 2022 with Turid Knaak drawing the matches.[5][6] The teams were split in a North and South group. All clubs from the 2021–22 Frauen-Bundesliga and the four best-placed teams from the 2021–22 2. Frauen-Bundesliga joined in this round. The matches took place from 10 to 12 September 2022.[1]
The following players were the top scorers of the DFB-Pokal, sorted first by number of goals, and then alphabetically if necessary.[15] Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs are not included.
^Each team will be given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
