TSV 1860 Munich denied 3. Liga licence and relegated to Regionalliga

TSV 1860 Munich finished the 2025/26 season in eighth place in the 3. Liga, but the German Football Association (DFB) refused to grant the club a licence for the next season because it failed to provide the required liquidity proof. The shortfall was tied to a missed financing commitment from investor Hasan Ismaik.

On 9 July 2026 the DFB’s Federal Court rejected the club’s administrative appeal, confirming the forced relegation to the Regionalliga Bayern. The vacant 3. Liga slot was allocated to TSV Havelse. The same week the club’s operating company filed for insolvency, a provisional administrator was appointed, and player wages were secured through insolvency benefits until August. Fans have launched a fundraising campaign aiming to become the team’s jersey sponsor.

The case highlights the strict financial licensing rules in German professional football and adds a warning to other clubs about the consequences of unmet funding obligations.