New season warm-up: how BVB's season launch went

New season warm-up: how BVB's season launch wentAutograph session with the BVB Women

The first highlight of the day awaited at Stadion Rote Erde: before the women’s match against AS Roma kicked off, players Manuela Zinsberger, Dana Marquardt, Emilia Pauls and Mia Scholle, along with mascot EMMA, signed autographs and posed for selfies. Even before the autograph session began, a long line had already formed on the stadium track and quickly stretched up into the stands. Due to the huge interest, the players went into extra time to make sure every autograph request was fulfilled.

Visit from Mats Hummels

BVB legend Mats Hummels used the meeting of two of his former clubs as an opportunity to visit Strobelallee. “I’m happy to be back in Dortmund. It feels like coming home,” he said during the break in the women’s match. Hummels had already attended the BVB Women’s debut in 2021 and has followed the team’s journey ever since, as he revealed in the halftime interview. He then missed the start of the second half: while walking through the crowd in the stands, he kept stopping for autographs and selfies. The BVB legend was also in demand at halftime of the first-team match: first on Nobby Dickel’s microphone (“A great atmosphere in the stadium!”), then in a target-shooting challenge with his son Ludwig against two BVB fans.

Introduction of BVB departments and teams

In addition to the squads of the first team and the BVB Women, other Borussia Dortmund departments and teams were also introduced, including handball, table tennis, integration sports, gaming, referees, as well as the fan and support departments.

Performance by Blumengarten

The music duo Blumengarten paid a visit to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK between the squad presentation and kick-off, providing the musical backdrop to the season opener. “I’ve been a BVB fan all my life, so this is something special for me,” said singer Rayan. “Gut genug,” the summer hit of the year, of course could not be missing from the performance.

Honoring the winners of the Premier League International Cup

In May 2026, a BVB youth team made up of U19 and U23 players won the Premier League International Cup. The competition, held in England for U21 teams, sees English youth sides and international top clubs face off every year. In the final, the Black & Yellows beat Real Madrid’s youth team 1-0. The team was honored for winning the title to loud applause.

Honoring the heroes of 1966

In May 1966, Borussia Dortmund made history: at Hampden Park in Glasgow, BVB defeated heavy favorites Liverpool FC 2-1 to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup — becoming the first German club ever to win a European title. A few months ago marked the 60th anniversary of that triumph. To mark the occasion, the “Heroes of 1966” were honored. Siggi Held from that team was on the pitch and received with great applause. Wolfgang Paul, the team’s leader and captain, had died at the end of June 2026 at the age of 86. The subsequent “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was dedicated to him — honorary member, holder of the club’s golden badge of honor, the club’s first honorary captain, and long-serving chairman of the council of elders — as well as to the heroes of 1966. (cr)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.