German 3. Liga season kicks off with new broadcast deal and preseason matches

The 2026/27 German 3. Liga season begins in early August with a major broadcast expansion and a​ series of preseason test matches. Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) will stream all matches of the eight North‑Rhine‑Westphalian clubs live via audio and video on wdr.de and the WDR‑App, marking the broadcaster’s most extensive 3. Liga coverage to date. Dr Katrin Vernau, WDR‑Intendant, said, “Die Fußballkultur in Nordrhein‑Westfalen ist einzigartig und bringt die Menschen im Land zusammen.”

MagentaSport retains exclusive live rights for the league’s nationwide games, including the Wehen Wiesbaden vs Preußen Münster fixture on 8 August, which will be shown only on its platform.

In preparation for the campaign, several clubs have scheduled test matches. Eintracht Frankfurt travelled to the Carl‑Benz‑Stadion to face SV Waldhof Mannheim, with coach Adi Hütter using the game to fine‑tune tactics; Timmo Hardung noted the importance of extracting “themen” from the encounter. Rot‑Weiss Essen (RWE) announced a busy summer programme, playing against Austrian 1. Liga side SV Ried, Bundesliga teams Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen, and other regional opponents. These fixtures, together with the new broadcasting arrangements, set the stage for a competitive 3. Liga season across Germany.