2016–17 DFB-Pokal

[1] The DFB-Pokal is considered the second-most important club title in German football after the Bundesliga championship.

The defending champions were Bundesliga side Bayern Munich, after they beat Borussia Dortmund 4–3 on penalties in the previous final.

[2] Bayern Munich were knocked out of the competition in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund, the eventual winners, losing 2–3.

[3][4] Borussia Dortmund defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1 in the final to claim their fourth title and first since 2012.

[4][5] Borussia Dortmund, the winners of the DFB-Pokal had already earned automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2017–18 edition of the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund also hosted the 2017 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the 2017–18 season, when they faced the champion of the 2016–17 Bundesliga, Bayern Munich.

The three remaining slots were given to the three regional associations with the most men's teams, which currently is Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Westphalia.

The runner-up of the Lower Saxony Cup was given the slot, along with the best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern.

For Westphalia, the winner of a play-off between the best-placed team of the Regionalliga West and Oberliga Westfalen also qualified.

However, after a proposal by the German Football Association, the IFAB approved the use of a fourth substitute in extra time as part of a pilot project.

If a player received a direct red card, they were suspended a minimum of one match, but the German Football Association reserved the right to increase the suspension.

[7] The winner of the DFB-Pokal earns automatic qualification for the group stage of next year's edition of the UEFA Europa League.

As winners Borussia Dortmund had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League by finishing 3rd in the Bundesliga, the spot went to the team in sixth, Hertha BSC, and the league's second qualifying round spot went to the team in seventh, SC Freiburg.

As winner, Dortmund also hosted the 2017 DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and faced the champion of the previous year's Bundesliga, Bayern Munich.