The 2021–22 Verbandspokal (English: 2021–22 Association Cup) consisted of twenty-one regional cup competitions, the Verbandspokale, the qualifying competition for the 2022–23 DFB-Pokal, the German Cup.[1]
All clubs from the 3. Liga and below could enter the regional Verbandspokale, subject to the rules and regulations of each region. Clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga could not enter but were instead directly qualified for the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Reserve teams were not permitted to take part in the DFB-Pokal or the Verbandspokale. The precise rules of each regional Verbandspokal are laid down by the regional football association organising it.[2] [3]
All twenty-one winners qualified for the first round of the German Cup in the following season. Three additional clubs also qualified for the first round of the German Cup, these being from the three largest state associations, Bavaria, Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths, one for teams from the 3. Liga and the Regionalliga Nord and one for the teams from lower leagues. The winners of both paths qualified for the DFB-Pokal. In Bavaria the best-placed non-reserve Regionalliga Bayern team qualified for the DFB-Pokal while in Westphalia the best-placed non-reserve Oberliga Westfalen team qualified.[1] [4]
The finals of the Verbandspokal competitions were played on the Amateurs' Final Day (German: German: Finaltag der Amateure), on 21 May 2022.[5]
The finals of the 2021–22 Verbandspokal competitions (winners listed in bold):