Bundesliga Faces Weather Disruptions as January Matches are Postponed

Inclement weather continues to disrupt the scheduled re-start of the Bundesliga in January 2026. The German Hanseatic region, in particular, has been significantly impacted by a winter storm named “Elli,” which has already led to the cancellation of home fixtures for FC St. Pauli and Werder Bremen. Additional Bundesliga matches are at risk of postponement this weekend.

This situation is not unexpected, as Bundesliga football traditionally did not resume until late January prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The reduced winter break—previously lasting a full month—was always likely to result in scenarios like the current one.

Get German Football News provides a comprehensive update on the nine top-flight fixtures set for this weekend. With numerous locations across Germany grappling with snow drifts and adverse weather conditions that jeopardize spectator safety, changes may occur rapidly.

This evening’s Bundesliga matchday 16 opener is set to proceed as planned. Although heavy snowfall is forecasted to approach the RheinMain metropolis, it is expected to arrive only after Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund conclude their match at the renowned “Waldstadion.”

The stadium’s location within a light-traffic “forest corridor” ensures that fans will be able to exit the area safely, despite potentially wet and slippery conditions.

In Freiburg, known as the “sunniest part of Germany,” winter snowfall is not uncommon. Currently, this border town is bracing for the southern edge of the storm front, although Saturday’s forecast predicts predominantly heavy rain. However, temperatures are expected to drop on Sunday, raising the possibility of a snow blanket covering the Baden region.

The Hanseatic city-state is taking precautionary measures as it prepares for a direct impact from the storm. The DFL confirmed the match cancellation earlier today, citing safety concerns regarding the gathering of over 50,000 spectators at the Weser Stadion.

In Köpenick, where heavy snowfall is already present, club members are working diligently to clear the snow around the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Fortunately, the German national weather service has lifted the severe weather warning for Berlin, and the Bundesbahn announced that rail service to Berlin-Brandenburg will resume on Saturday morning.

Hamburg, similar to Bremen, is bracing for a direct hit from the storm. The trajectory of “Elli” suggests it will move from the south towards the English Channel, temporarily sparing Berlin, eastern Germany, and the northern Peninsula. Although areas like Berlin and Dresden have experienced snowfall, it appears that the heaviest impacts have subsided for now.

The weather remains relatively calm in the BaWü border region. Heidenheim an der Brenz is experiencing intermittent showers and light snowfall, but the temperatures in this part of Swabia indicate that any snow accumulation is unlikely. Frank Schmidt’s FCH is preparing to host Köln under challenging yet manageable conditions.

In Leverkusen, club staff and volunteers are actively clearing the snow that has already fallen, but the anticipated volume of snowfall from the south threatens to render their match unplayable. As a result, these two teams will need to postpone the start of their calendar year.

Despite being only 66 km apart, Mönchengladbach is expected to hold the first of the Sunday fixtures. There is ample time to clear any projected snowfall, and with rain and rising temperatures, some snow accumulation may naturally dissipate.

Light snowfall is expected to result in minor accumulation in the Bavarian capital, but the second Sunday fixture should go ahead as scheduled, as the storm front is projected to miss the home of the German giants.