By opening the DFB Campus, the German Football Association (DFB) has created a new home that allows administration and sport to flourish together under one roof for the first time on a site covering 15 hectares. This "once-in-a-century project" received USD 3.5 million in financial support as part of the FIFA Forward Programme. The Campus was designed to be a “home shaped by our sport”. Previously scattered across different locations, the DFB’s various administrative departments and its Academy have now been brought together in one place to serve all 14 of Germany’s national teams. Kathrin Peter, coach of the U-19 women’s national team, has already used the new DFB Campus’s facilities to host an evaluation course for players scouted from the second and third divisions after delivering strong performances within the country’s state football associations.

"It was our very first time here on the Campus, and we were hugely impressed," said Peter. "The facilities are incredible here, everything is close by, the pitches are amazing, and everything is so professional. "We’re very proud of our new home," she continued. "Every department is here under one roof, which means the women’s game has a constant presence here and an opportunity to interact with the men’s departments. We’ll benefit from that, and we’re delighted to be able to call this place home." The DFB Campus was inaugurated by Germany’s women’s national team when coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg invited 20 players for "pre-camp" in the build-up to UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. Joti Chatzialexiou, sporting director for Germany’s national teams, underlined the positive impact the Campus will have on the country’s footballing fortunes.

"This place will give us the preparation we need to achieve great results," Chatzialexiou explained. "The women’s senior side was the first to use the Campus to prepare for the European Championships in England, and the fact that we managed an impressive second-place finish there is a good omen. Of course, we would love to have taken home the trophy, but that requires even more preparation – perhaps for the World Cup next year. Our vision was always to make sure we can provide the best possible environment for our national teams." This environment is now a reality in Frankfurt. The complex features a large indoor football hall, an athletes’ centre with 33 bedrooms and a futsal/multi-purpose hall, as well as three-and-a-half grass pitches and additional training areas.

"The DFB Campus is a place where we can build the future of German football," said Tobias Haupt, head of the DFB Academy. "More than 190 staff across the national teams and Academy are working hard here to help Germany win its next trophies. "The point of all that hard work is not just to help our teams succeed here and now, but also to lay a foundation for the future. Our sights are not set on short-term glory, but on lasting sporting success."