Youth Football in Germany Sees Significant Growth in 2025 with Over 10,000 Teams
FLVW reports over 10,000 youth football teams in 2025/26, fueled by growth in younger age groups and girls' football in Germany.
- • FLVW reports an increase of 397 youth teams for 2025/26, surpassing 10,000 teams for the first time since 2016.
- • Growth primarily seen in younger age groups such as D, E, F-Junioren, and Mini-Kicker, while B-Junioren teams declined.
- • Girls' football teams increased significantly by 138 this season.
- • Initiatives like the DFB-Assist project and professional club efforts credited for growth in girls' football.
Key details
The Fußball- und Leichtathletik-Verband Westfalen (FLVW) has reported a remarkable increase of 397 youth football teams for the 2025/26 season, pushing the total above 10,000 for the first time since 2016. This marks the fifth consecutive year of growth, reversing a decade-long decline in youth football participation in the region. FLVW currently counts 9,359 junior teams and 942 junior girls' teams, with the rise driven mostly by younger age groups such as D, E, and F-Junioren, and Mini-Kicker categories. Teams in D-Junioren increased by 91, E-Junioren by 83, F-Junioren by 90, and Mini-Kicker by 23, while B-Junioren teams saw a decline of 44, and A-Junioren teams remained stable. The C-Junioren category experienced a rebound with a gain of 15 teams after prior losses.
Girls' football displayed notable growth with an increase of 138 teams this season, following a previous rise of 79. Alex Spiekermann, chair of the girls' football commission, attributed this surge to professional club efforts and initiatives like the DFB-Assist project that promote girls' participation. FLVW Vice President Holger Bellinghoff expressed gratitude for the dedication of clubs and volunteer coaches, while highlighting the rising demand for volunteers and sports facilities to support expanding youth programs. Harald Ollech, chair of the youth committee, emphasized the need to address high dropout rates particularly seen in the B and A-Junioren categories.
These positive trends underscore Germany's ongoing commitment to nurturing youth football, supported by targeted initiatives and broad volunteer engagement that sustain grassroots development.