DFB-Pokal 2015-16 was the 73rd season of the annual German football cup competition. The 2015–16 DFB-Pokal competition included 64 teams, featuring all clubs from the previous season’s Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. The tournament started on 7 August 2015 and concluded with the final on 21 May 2016 at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. This competition is widely regarded as the second-most significant club title in German football, following the Bundesliga, and is organized by the German Football Association (DFB).
Defending champions VfL Wolfsburg, who had won the previous final against Borussia Dortmund with a 3–1 victory on 30 May 2015, were eliminated in the second round by Bayern Munich. Who went on to win the tournament. Bayern claimed their eighteenth DFB-Pokal title, defeating Borussia Dortmund 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw through regular and extra time. This marked Bayern’s third DFB-Pokal title in four years.
Champions: 
Bayern Munich (18th title)
Runner-up: 
Borussia Dortmund
Top Goal Scorer: 
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (5 goal)
DFB-Pokal 2015-16 Round of 16 matches
The draw for the round of 16 was held on 1 November 2015. DFB general secretary Helmut Sandrock led the draw, with musician Vanessa Mai drawing from the pot.
Date Team 1 Result Team 2
15 December 2015 
SpVgg Unterhaching1–3 
Bayer Leverkusen
15 December 2015 
Borussia Mönchengladbach3–4 
Werder Bremen
15 December 2015 
Erzgebirge Aue0–2 
1. FC Heidenheim
15 December 2015 Bayern Munich1–0 
Darmstadt 98
16 December 2015 
1. FC Nürnberg0–2 
Hertha BSC
16 December 2015 
VfB Stuttgart3–2 (a.e.t.) 
Eintracht Braunschweig
16 December 2015 
FC Augsburg0–2 Borussia Dortmund
16 December 2015 
1860 Munich0–2 
VfL Bochum
Quarter Final matches
The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 16 December 2015. DFB general secretary Helmut Sandrock led the draw, with handballer Carsten Lichtlein drawing from the pot.
Date Team 1 Result Team 2
9 February 2016 Bayer Leverkusen1–3 Werder Bremen
9 February 2016 VfB Stuttgart1–3 Borussia Dortmund
10 February 2016 1. FC Heidenheim2–3 Hertha BSC
10 February 2016 VfL Bochum0–3 Bayern Munich
Semi final matches
The draw for the semi-finals was held on 10 February 2016. DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth led the draw, with handballer Andreas Wolff drawing from the pot.
Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Venue
19 April 2016 Bayern Munich2–0 Werder BremenAllianz Arena, Munich
20 April 2016 Hertha BSC0–3 Borussia DortmundOlympiastadion, Berlin
DFB-Pokal 2015-16 final match
21 May 2016 20:00 CEST, Olympiastadion, Berlin
| Bayern Munich |
0–0 (a.e.t.) | Borussia Dortmund |
Vidal  Lewandowski Kimmich  Müller Douglas Costa |
4–3 Penalties |
Kagawa Bender Papastathopoulos Aubameyang Reus |
DFB-Pokal 2015-16 Top Goal scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Henrikh Mkhitaryan Borussia Dortmund5
2 
Javier Hernández Bayer Leverkusen4
3 
Thomas Müller Bayern Munich4
4 Nils Petersen
SC Freiburg4
5 Lars Stindl Borussia Mönchengladbach4
Champion qualification
Winning the DFB-Pokal grants automatic qualification for the UEFA Europa League group stage in the following season. Since Bayern Munich won both the 2015–16 DFB-Pokal and the Bundesliga, securing their spot in the UEFA Champions League. The Europa League group stage slot was passed down to Mainz 05, who finished sixth in the Bundesliga.
With Bayern achieving a domestic double, the 2016 DFL-Supercup hosting rights were given to Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga runners-up, setting up a season-opening face-off with Bayern Munich.
