2017–18 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 Borussia Dortmund, after they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1 in the previous final.

[2] Dortmund were knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 by record winners Bayern Munich, losing 1–2.

As winners, Eintracht Frankfurt automatically qualified for the group stage of the 2018–19 edition of the UEFA Europa League.

They also hosted the 2018 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the 2018-19 season, when they faced the champion of the 2017–18 Bundesliga, Bayern Munich.

The 3 remaining slots were given to the three regional associations with the most men's teams, which at the time were 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.

After approval by the IFAB during the previous season, the use of a fourth substitute was allowed in extra time as part of a pilot project.

[6] If a player received five yellow cards in the competition, he was then suspended from the next cup match.

Similarly, receiving a second yellow card suspended a player from the next cup match.

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.

[4] The winner of the DFB-Pokal, Eintracht Frankfurt, earned automatic qualification for the group stage of next year's edition of the UEFA Europa League.

As winner, they also hosted the 2018 DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and faced the champion of the previous year's Bundesliga, Bayern Munich.

All draws were generally held at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, on a Sunday evening at 18:00 after each round.