Germany needs no introduction when it comes to the sporting community. Sports are very popular in Germany, with about forty million Germans either a member of a sports club or pursuing sports individually.

German gymnast Philipp Boy preparing for his horizontal bar routine

German gymnast Philipp Boy preparing for his horizontal bar routine

Football Dominance

Football is the most popular sport and indeed Germany are one of the superpowers of the sport internationally. They have won the FIFA World Cup four times (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014) and have hosted it twice (1974 and 2006). They have also won the UEFA European Championship three times (1972, 1980 and 1996) and hosted it in 1988.

“I rate the quality of the Bundesliga extremely highly. The league and the clubs do outstanding work, the cooperation with the regional associations is functioning, everything clicks. … The work in Germany is more sustainable than for instance in England, where top clubs buy players for a lot of money. They perform, but the youth have fewer chances than in Germany. That's our trump card.”

— Joachim Löw, praising Germany’s youth setup and its coherent structure.

Some of their best players include Thomas Muller, Miroslav Klose, Jurgen Klinsmann, Gerard Muller, Lothar Matthaus, and Franz Beckenbauer. As of July 2025, the DFB reported over 8 million registered members and 24,500 football clubs, according to official DFB and FIFA data. Hence Germany has the largest single-sport federation in the world

Motorsports Excellence

Motorsports is also very popular in Germany and is one of the leading country in the sport. With teams like BMW, Mercedes and Porsche, it's not hard to imagine why. The Porsche team has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans a staggering 19 times and so did Audi for 13 times.

Anybody who is into motor sports will recognize the name Michael Schumacher who has set various motor sport records and have won more Formula One races than any other driver before him that includes the Formula One World Drivers' Championships which justifies him being one of the highest paid sportsmen of all time.

Sebastian Vettel is another highly successful German Formula 1 driver. He won four consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championships from 2010 to 2013. This places him among the most prominent drivers in F1 history. He is also the youngest-ever World Drivers' Champion, a record he set in 2010. Vettel retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season

💡 Pro Tip: Germany's motorsport success is deeply connected to its automotive industry heritage. Visiting the Mercedes-Benz or Porsche museums in Stuttgart offers incredible insights into this racing legacy.

Olympic Performance

As far as the Olympic Games are concerned, Germany is one of the powerhouse ranking third when it comes to the all-time medal count in both the Summer and Winter Games as well as hosting quite a few.

“Sport provides indispensable added value for our society. Wanting to cut funding for the 2024 Olympic year sends the completely wrong signal to all athletes, coaches and supporters of the sport … It is important to further strengthen the sports system in Germany so that it can fulfill its requirements — both in top-class sport and across the board.”

— Thomas Weikert, DOSB President

See also about sport in the previous nations of Saarland, West Germany and East Germany.

Popular Sports in Germany

Football (Soccer)

The undisputed king of German sports with 8+ million registered members and a World Cup-winning tradition.

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Motorsports

Home to legendary brands like Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche, and drivers like Schumacher and Vettel.

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Field Hockey

Multiple Champions Trophy victories showcase Germany's excellence in this Olympic sport.

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Gymnastics

Strong tradition in both artistic and rhythmic gymnastics with numerous Olympic medals.

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Other popular sports include Rugby Union, Cycling, tennis, shooting, athletics, and handball.

Traditional German Sports

  • Klootschieten — German sport in which participants throw a ball as far as they can
  • Kegel — a German nine-pin bowling game played in Australia
  • Sporthocking — An unusual German sport which is a mix of skateboarding and sitting down

Major Sporting Achievements

Achievement Years
FIFA World Cup Winners 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
UEFA European Championship Winners 1972, 1980, 1996
Field Hockey Champions Trophy Winners 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014

Great German Athletes

  • Michael Schumacher — Formula One racing legend with seven World Championships and numerous records
  • Boris Becker — Tennis champion and youngest-ever Wimbledon singles winner at age 17
  • Katarina Witt — Figure skating icon with two Olympic gold medals
  • Franz Beckenbauer — Football legend who won the World Cup as both player and coach
  • Sebastian Vettel — Four-time Formula One World Champion (2010-2013)

Major Sporting Events in Germany

Germany at International Competitions

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Germany

  • 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin
  • 1936 Winter Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
  • 1972 Olympic Games in Munich
  • 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg
  • 1974 FIFA World Cup
  • 1978 World Swimming Championships in Berlin
  • 2006 FIFA World Cup
  • 2017 World Table Tennis Championships in Düsseldorf
  • 2020 World Cycling Track Championships in Berlin
  • 2022 European Championships in Munich
  • 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin
  • 2024 UEFA European (Euro) Football Championship
  • 2025 UEFA Champions League Final in the Allianz Arena of Munic

Upcoming Sporting Events in Germany

Annual Sporting Events

Sporting Facilities in Germany

Germany boasts world-class sporting venues that have hosted major international competitions:

Sports Trivia

⚠️ Historical Note: Berlin was scheduled to host the 1916 Olympic Games, but the Games were canceled due to World War I.