New Beginnings
Dieter Hecking has been appointed as the managing director of sport at Wolfsburg, and he has brought in Tobias Strobl as the new head coach. Hecking has a wealth of experience in the Bundesliga, having managed Wolfsburg at the end of last season. He has expressed his confidence in the team's ability to return to the top flight immediately, saying, "We know we're regarded as favourites, but first we have to get down to work."
Transfer Business
Wolfsburg have made several high-profile signings in the transfer market, including Hauke Wahl, Fabian Reese, Robert Glatzel, and Elvis Rexhbecaj. These additions bring much-needed experience and youth to the squad, and Glatzel's proven goalscoring record in the Bundesliga 2 will be a significant boost. The team has also retained the services of Muhammed Damar, who adds further depth to the squad.
Pre-Season Form
Wolfsburg have been unbeaten in pre-season, with a 3-1 win against Telstar being a notable highlight. Strobl is relishing the prospect of coaching the team in the Bundesliga 2, saying, "We now feel ready for the start of the season."
Other Contenders
Hannover are another team that are well-placed to earn promotion in 2026/27. They finished second-placed in the Bundesliga 2 last season, just two points behind Elversberg. Hannover have been busy in the transfer market, recruiting goalkeeper Pascal Loretz from Luzern, Jean Hugonet from Magdeburg, and Taycan Etçibaşı from Borussia Dortmund II. They will, however, be without captain Enzo Leopold, who has switched to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach.
St. Pauli's Challenge
St. Pauli are another team that are looking to return to the Bundesliga. They have appointed Marcel Rapp as their new head coach, who has previously taken Holstein Kiel to the promised land. Rapp has retained the services of Sweden international Eric Smith and Bundesliga 2 goal-machine Martijn Kaars, who will be key players for the team.
Heidenheim's Resilience
Heidenheim are the final newly-relegated side in focus, and they have shown remarkable resilience in the face of relegation. Under Frank Schmidt, they won three of their last five games and drew with Bayern Munich. Schmidt is embarking on his 19th season as Heidenheim boss and 10th in the second tier, and he is confident that the team can bounce back.
Hertha Berlin's Hopes
Hertha Berlin are a traditional giant of German football, and they will be looking to return to the Bundesliga. They have lost several key players over the summer, including wonderkid Kennet Eichhorn, Tjark Ernst, and Fabian Reese. However, they have a decent finish to last season, which saw the club stabilise in seventh, and they will be hoping to build on this.
Kaiserslautern's Ambition
Kaiserslautern finished sixth in the Bundesliga 2 last season, 10 points off the automatic promotion spots. They will be keen to go even better this time around, and head coach Torsten Lieberknecht has done a solid job at the club since joining in April 2025. They have a significant home advantage, with their 49,000-capacity Fritz-Walter-Stadion regularly sold out.
Darmstadt's Consistency
Darmstadt are a strong top-three candidate, despite losing Isac Lidberg and Fraser Hornby over the summer. They have continuity at the club, with head coach Florian Kohfeldt holding the reins since September 2024. Kohfeldt's side ended up ten points off the promotion pace last term, but on their day, Darmstadt can be a match for anyone.