The 3. Fußball-Bundesliga (3. Liga) final matchday and relegation play-offs determined key outcomes for promotion and relegation in the 2025/26 season.
Relegation and Abstieg (Relegation/Relegation Play-offs): FC St. Pauli suffered direct relegation to the 3. Liga after losing to VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga relegation play-offs. Despite their defeat, St. Pauli fans celebrated their team’s efforts, acknowledging the club’s recent progress before the setback . Wolfsburg secured a second chance to retain their Bundesliga status through the play-offs .
Promotion and European Qualification Context: While not directly tied to the 3. Liga, the Bundesliga’s final matchday saw VfB Stuttgart secure Champions League qualification with a 2-2 draw in Frankfurt, while SC Freiburg prepared for their Europa League final after a strong 3-0 win over RB Leipzig . Bayer Leverkusen missed out on Champions League qualification after a 1-1 draw with Hamburger SV, settling for the Europa League . TSG Hoffenheim’s 0-4 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach ended their hopes of Champions League participation .