After 6 Years, the Cup Is Bayern's Again: Kane Hat-Trick

In the DFB-Pokal, German football's most prestigious cup competition, the 2025/26 season's champion was decided. In the final played at the historic Olympiastadion in Berlin, Bayern Munich defeated last season's cup holders VfB Stuttgart 3-0. With this victory, the Bavarian side took the cup back to their museum after a long gap. The star of the encounter was Harry Kane, who scored all three goals.

For Bayern, this victory ended an important wait. The Bavarian side had last won the German Cup in 2020, in the final where they beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2. In the six years that passed, the cup had stayed away from Bayern, and last season VfB Stuttgart became champions. With this result, Bayern carried their record even further, raising their number of cups in German Cup history to 21 and cementing their position as the competition's most successful club.

The first half of the match ended goalless. Although both teams produced clear chances in the first 45 minutes, they could not find the net; the half ended 0-0. However, in the second half, Bayern took control of the game and increased their pressure. The Bavarian side, under Vincent Kompany, took the field more effectively after the break and managed to open the scoring. In this turnaround, manager Kompany's tactical adjustments in the second half were decisive.

The name who opened the scoring was Bayern's striker Harry Kane. The English forward, in the 54th minute, headed the ball prepared by Michael Olise into the net to put his team 1-0 ahead. Kane, in the 79th minute, became the name to reach the ball quickest in a scramble in the penalty area and carried the score to 2-0. In the final minute of the encounter, with Bayern awarded a penalty, Kane stepped up to the spot to complete his hat-trick and set the match score at 3-0. This performance was the latest example of Kane's goalscoring that left a mark on the season.

This victory means crowning the season with a domestic double for Bayern. The Bavarian side had already secured the Bundesliga title this season under Vincent Kompany. With the German Cup also added, Bayern became the team to win both the league and cup titles in the same season. The club had completed the league season with a record number of goals and stood out with its attacking power; this cup victory is being evaluated as the peak of a successful season.

Before the match, some absences were on the agenda at Bayern. It had been reported that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer would not be able to play in the final due to a calf injury. Despite this, Bayern used their squad depth to field a strong eleven and reflected their superiority on the pitch against Stuttgart. Last season's cup holders Stuttgart, meanwhile, had aimed for the title for a second consecutive time; however, the side under Sebastian Hoeneß could not reach this goal against Bayern's pressure.

In conclusion, Bayern Munich's DFB-Pokal victory was an important success that ended a six-year wait for the club. The 3-0 win that came with Harry Kane's hat-trick brought both the record 21st cup and the season's second trophy. Bayern completed the domestic double by winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup in the same season. This victory at the Olympiastadion in Berlin allowed the Bavarian side to end their successful 2025/26 season at the highest level.