Warm-up for the new season: how BVB's opener went

Autograph session with the BVB Women

The first highlight of the day awaited at Stadion Rote Erde: Before kick-off in the women's match against AS Roma, players Manuela Zinsberger, Dana Marquardt, Emilia Pauls and Mia Scholle, along with mascot EMMA, signed autographs and posed for selfies. Even before the autograph session began, a long line had formed on the stadium track and quickly grew all the way up into the stands. Due to the huge interest, the players went into extra time to make sure every autograph request was fulfilled.

Visit from Mats Hummels

BVB legend Mats Hummels took the chance to visit Strobelallee for the meeting of two of his former clubs. "I'm happy to be back in Dortmund. It feels like coming home," he said during the halftime break of the women's match. Hummels had already been there for the BVB Women's debut in 2021 and has followed the team's journey ever since, as he revealed in the halftime interview. He then missed the start of the second half: while walking through the fans in the stands, he kept stopping for autographs and selfies. The BVB legend was also in demand during halftime of the professional match: first on Nobby Dickel's microphone ("A great atmosphere in the stadium!"), then in a target-shooting challenge with his son Ludwig against two BVB fans.

Presentation of BVB's departments and teams

Alongside the squads of the professional team and the BVB Women, other Borussia Dortmund departments and teams were also introduced, including handball, table tennis, integration sport, gaming, referees, as well as the fan and support members' department.

Advertisement

Performance by Blumengarten

The music duo Blumengarten paid a visit to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK between the squad presentation and kick-off, providing the musical backdrop to the season-opening event. "I've been a BVB fan all my life, so this is something special for me," said singer Rayan. "Gut genug," this year's summer hit, of course could not be left out of the performance.

Honouring the winners of the Premier League International Cup

In May 2026, a BVB youth team made up of U19 and U23 players won the Premier League International Cup. The tournament, held in England for U21 teams, sees English youth sides and top international clubs compete against each other every year. In the final, the Black and Yellows beat Real Madrid's youth team 1-0. The team was honoured for winning the title to loud applause.

Advertisement

Honouring the heroes of 1966

In May 1966, Borussia Dortmund made history: at Hampden Park in Glasgow, BVB beat heavy favourites Liverpool FC 2-1 to win the European Cup Winners' Cup – becoming the first German club ever to win a European title. A few months ago marked the 60th anniversary of that triumph. To mark the occasion, the "Heroes of 1966" were honoured. Siggi Held from that team stood on the pitch and was greeted with great applause. Wolfgang Paul, the team's leader and captain, had died at the end of June 2026 at the age of 86. The subsequent rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" was dedicated to him – honorary member, recipient of the club's golden badge, the club's first honorary captain and long-serving chairman of the council of elders – as well as to the Heroes of 1966. (cr)

Click here to read article