We’ve got it all
It’s where top Bundesliga clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen, 1. FC Köln, Schalke 04 and Fortuna Düsseldorf call home, and with the German Football Museum in Dortmund, offering an interactive tour through the history of German football, plus the traditional football pubs in the old towns, we're definitely deserving our ‘Land of Football’ nickname.
The whole area lives and breathes football, with the amazing atmosphere that originates in the buzz of the stadiums extending across the whole region thanks to the numerous public viewings in local pubs – serving, of course, legendary German beer! Here you can get a real taste of German football tradition by mixing with the locals. The only question is: which team will you be cheering on?!
Whether you’re looking to cram as many games as possible into your visit or you’d prefer to mix it up with other activities such as a behind-the-scenes stadium tour and some beer tasting – there’s plenty to tempt you, and all within easy access of Düsseldorf Airport.
So, what are you waiting for? Kick-off plans for your next football fuelled trip to North Rhine-Westphalia – Land of Football!
Did you know?
- German punk rock band ‘Die Toten Hosen’, who’s lead singer is half British, dedicated their popular song ‘An Tagen wie diesen’ to Fortuna Düsseldorf.
- Up until 2013, British Forces in Germany were headquartered in Mönchengladbach – resulting in Borussia Mönchengladbach having many British supporters.
- The Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund has a capacity of 81,360, making it Germany’s largest stadium.
- The Goat Hennes of 1. FC Köln is the most traditional mascot in Germany and one of the few living mascots in the world.
Fortuna Düsseldorf
WE ARE FORTUNA DÜSSELDORF! Bundesliga Champion. German Cup Winner. Facing FC Barcelona in the European Cup Final. Relegation to the 4thDivision. Saved by Düsseldorf’s punk rock band ‘Die Toten Hosen’. Comeback to the Bundesliga. We’ve been through everything and we have mastered it all! No other German football club has such an emotional and rich history.
Founded in 1895 and counting more than 25,000 members, we are one of the oldest football clubs in Germany, famous for our tradition and strong bond to our home, Düsseldorf. Our state of the art arena fits more than 52,000 spectators and our passionate fans are inviting you to enjoy phenomenal choreographies and one of the most electrifying atmospheres in Germany. Join us for an unforgettable experience in our vibrant city and the MERKUR Spiel-Arena in.
1.FC Köln
Cologne is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. Cologne Cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany. 1.FC Köln is a football club located in Cologne, the hub of sports in Germany. Founded in 1948, 1.FC Köln is one of the founding members and the first champion of the German Bundesliga. The team won three Bundesliga championships and four German Cup titles. 1.FC Köln also prides itself on its youth football atmosphere and one of the most professional football training academies.
With over 100,000 members, 1.FC Köln is one of the biggest clubs in Germany. In addition to the youth academy, the club also has the Heinz Flohe Football School, which successfully trains children regardless of talent and age. Every year about 5,000 children participate in the football school camps and trainings. Welcome to Cologne and the Unique and “just different” Stadium of 1.FC Köln!
Schalke 04
FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 e.V., commonly known as FC Schalke 04, is one of the most successful and well-known football clubs in Germany with seven German championships, five successes in the German Cup and the victory in the 1997 UEFA Cup. As a registered association, the Royal Blues delimit themselves from investor-funded and group-owned clubs and own unique and valuable selling points. The essential business areas of the traditional club are football, the training of young football players in the so-called Knappenschmiede and the Knappen-Fußballschule as well as the marketing of its multifunctional VELTINS-Arena.
FC Schalke 04 stands for the values of tradition, success and passion and is, with more than 157,000 members, one of the five largest clubs in the world. The strategic expansion fields include digitization, internationalization, Esports and the construction project "Berger Feld". In the fiscal year 2018, the club achieved a turnover of more than EUR 350 million.