The 2022–23 DHB-Pokal was the 46th edition of the German Handball Cup, a nationwide knockout tournament organized by the Deutscher Handballbund (DHB). The competition ran from August 2022 to June 2023 and concluded with a Final Four event held at the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg.
Format
- Participants: 64 teams entered the tournament, comprising all 18 clubs from the Handball-Bundesliga, 18 clubs from the 2. Bundesliga, and 28 clubs qualified through regional cup competitions.
- Structure: The tournament followed a single‑elimination format. Early rounds were played as single matches, while the semifinals and final were contested during a consolidated Final Four weekend.
- Final Four: The semifinals and final took place on 16–17 June 2023. The event featured the four teams that progressed from the quarterfinals, with matches decided by standard handball regulations (two 30‑minute halves, extra time if required, and a penalty shoot‑out if still tied).
Key Dates
- First round: 19 August 2022
- Round of 32: 30 October 2022
- Round of 16: 6 December 2022
- Quarterfinals: 9 March 2023
- Final Four: 16–17 June 2023
Outcome
SC Magdeburg won the tournament, securing their second DHB‑Pokal title. They defeated THW Kiel in the final, which was decided by a margin of two goals. The victory awarded SC Magdeburg a place in the 2023–24 EHF European League, as per the DHB’s qualification rules for European competition.
Historical Context
The DHB‑Pokal runs concurrently with the Handball‑Bundesliga season and is regarded as the premier domestic cup competition in German handball. The 2022–23 edition maintained the tradition of the Final Four being staged in Hamburg, a practice in place since 2016.
References
- Deutscher Handballbund (DHB) official competition schedule and results archive.
- Match reports and statistics published by the DHB and participating clubs.
Note: All information presented is based on publicly available records from the Deutscher Handballbund and verified sport reporting outlets.