The second round of the Bavarian Toto-Pokal has reached its climax, setting the stage for a compelling round of 16 as the Bavarian Football Association prepares to conduct its next bracket draw.
With 15 of the 16 spots in the round of 16 officially decided, attention turns directly to how the regional pots will shake out.
The qualification picture grew clearer following a hard-fought encounter in which third-tier side SSV Jahn Regensburg fended off a spirited challenge from Landesligist TSV Seebach. Although the underdog Seebach side grabbed an early advantage and threatened a major upset, Regensburg ultimately rallied to secure a 4-1 victory. That result locked in the final participant for the northern bracket, clearing the path for Thursday’s draw procedures.
How the Toto-Pokal Draw and Pots Work
To manage the massive pyramid of Bavarian football, the association divides the round of 16 participants into regional north and south brackets.
Within each regional division, teams are further separated into two specific pots. A foundational rule of the competition dictates that the lower-ranked club automatically earns home-field advantage when paired against a higher-division opponent. If two teams from the same tier draw each other, a coin flip or neutral draw determines the host venue.
The matches for the round of 16 are officially scheduled to be played on August 25 or September 1, leaving clubs with a tight turnaround to prepare for their next cup fixtures.
The Contenders in the South and North Groups
The southern bracket features several heavyweights from professional and semi-professional football, led by TSV 1860 München. The Munich side booked their ticket to the round of 16 in dominant fashion by cruising to a 5-1 victory over FC Wendelstein. Joining them in the southern Topf 1 tier are fellow third-tier and regional league mainstays including FC Ingolstadt, SV Wacker Burghausen, SpVgg Unterhaching, TSV 1882 Landsberg, TSV Buchbach, and TSV Schwaben Augsburg. Meanwhile, FC Dingolfing stands alone as the sole representative from the lower tiers in the southern group’s Topf 2.
FC Schweinfurt 1905, the Würzburger Kickers, SpVgg Bayreuth, TSV Aubstadt, VfB Eichstätt, and the newly confirmed SSV Jahn Regensburg. They are joined in the regional pool by lower-tier qualifiers SpVgg SV Weiden and TSV Neudrossenfeld in Topf 2.
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