Dortmund's DFB-Pokal foes HEBC, a club that loves being underdogs

Dortmund's DFB-Pokal opponent, HEBC, revels in the underdog narrative. Nestled in the heart of the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, the club identifies with its distinctive violet and white colors. Born in this city, Angela Merkel's roots run deep, but the club currently plays in Hamburg’s fifth-tier Oberliga following a move from the 2020/21 season. They gained their maiden triumph in the Hamburg Cup on May 23, 2026.

Hebc made a valiant start to the Oberliga season with two wins and three defeats. Their cup journey, however, has been even more impactful. Despite finishing 13th in the previous Oberliga campaign, 45 points behind champions ETSV, HEBC demonstrated resilience in the cup. They secured notable victories such as 6-1 against Viktoria Harburg, 5-2 against VfL Hammonia Hamburg, 4-3 on penalties against VfL Buchholz 08, and a commanding 8-0 win against SV West-Eimsbüttel.

The club’s calling card is its knack for overcoming the odds. In the 2025/26 campaign, they achieved a remarkable run of wins: 6-1 against Viktoria Harburg, 5-2 against VfL Hammonia Hamburg, a penalty shootout triumph against VfL Buchholz 08, 8-0 against SV West-Eimsbüttel, 1-0 against SV Nienstedten, 6-5 on penalties against USC Paloma, culminating in a 5-1 victory against SC Vorwärts-Wacker 04 in the final.

Beyond the pitch, HEBC boasts an impressive track record. They've produced a Germany international, Thomas Wolter, who enjoyed success with Werder Bremen twice. They also claim a player who once graced the field of Borussia Dortmund, Burghard Rylewicz, who scored five goals in eleven matches during the club’s inaugural Bundesliga season.

For the Black and Yellows, the days of Borussia Dortmund suffering early exits in the first-round DFB-Pokal matches are long gone. The club faced such early exits as recently as 2005 against newly promoted second division side Eintracht Braunschweig, where BVB lost 2-1. Since then, Borussia has reached the cup final seven times and clinched the title three times (2012, 2017, and 2021). The away match against HEBC in Hamburg is seen as the first step on a route to Berlin.