Winter Storms Disrupt Bundesliga Kickoff and Team Preparations

The Bundesliga's 2026 season is facing significant challenges due to severe winter weather across Germany, with heavy snowfall affecting matches, training, and fan access. The season is set to begin on Friday evening with a match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund, which local authorities have confirmed will proceed as scheduled despite adverse conditions.

Northern cities like Hamburg are experiencing substantial snow, prompting school closures and extensive efforts to maintain match schedules. Hamburg's St. Pauli club mobilized fan volunteers to clear snow, while Hamburg SV adjusted its training routines, using bright orange Bundesliga balls to improve visibility in snowy conditions. Werder Bremen and Union Berlin also focused on ensuring safe stadium access, with Union Berlin appealing directly to fans for snow removal assistance amid the predicted snowfall. The German Football League (DFL) maintains strict rules that allow games to be postponed if playing conditions become unsafe or if fans cannot safely attend; the last Bundesliga match to be postponed due to weather was in early 2024.

Meanwhile, 1. FC Köln faces a tough transition from their warm-weather training camp in La Nucia, Spain, to a freezing match environment in Heidenheim, where temperatures are expected to drop below zero with the potential for a snowstorm. Coach Lukas Kwasniok remains confident in the team's adaptability, highlighting their experience with fluctuating temperatures during training. Sport-Boss Thomas Kessler praised the training facilities in Spain but acknowledges the challenge posed by the sudden temperature change. Unlike Köln, Heidenheim stayed local to mentally prepare for the winter weather, with Coach Frank Schmidt focusing on resilience in cold conditions.

These contrasting approaches underscore the wider impact of winter weather on Bundesliga teams' preparations and game-day conditions. As teams and fans contend with snow, cancellations remain a possibility, but early efforts aim to keep the season's momentum despite the January weather disruptions.