The Bundesliga has a new home in the Land of the Rising Sun with DAZN Japan having secured the exclusive broadcast rights to screen all matches in Germany’s top-flight for the next three seasons.
From the time FC Bayern München kick off the new season at home to RB Leipzig on 22 August until the conclusion of the 2027-28 campaign, global sports media powerhouse DAZN will be streaming all nine Bundesliga matches via its platform on each of the 34 matchdays.
The deal also includes coverage of the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on 16 August when DFB Pokal winners VfB Stuttgart host last season’s Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München in a mouth-watering showdown of the German league heavyweights.
After an eight-year hiatus, the Bundesliga returns to DAZN Japan, where Japanese football fans will now be able to keep an eye on Samurai Blue stars in Germany’s top tier, including FC Bayern defender Hiroki Itō and Eintracht Frankfurt’s new signing Ritsu Dōan.
“The Bundesliga has a long and proud history of Japanese players making their mark and our club’s commitment to developing talent from the region has helped us build a loyal and passionate fanbase in Japan,” said Peer Naubert, Chief Executive of Bundesliga International.
“A total of ten Japanese players have transferred to Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 clubs in the summer of 2025 alone. With DAZN as our trusted partner, we’re excited to bring the stories of these local stars even closer to fans across the country – with world-class football, authentic storytelling, and a viewing experience tailored to the Japanese audience.”
The Japanese internationals in the Bundesliga this season include Yuito Suzuki who also plays for SC Freiburg, Kaishu Sano (1. FSV Mainz 05), Joel Chima Fujita (FC St. Pauli), Koki Machida (Hoffenheim), as well as Shuto Machino and Ko Itakura (both at Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Since the league‘s inception, more than 48 Japanese players have played in the Bundesliga, from 1. FC Köln‘s trailblazer Yasuhiko Okudera, to Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa. Japanese players have scored 330 goals in the German league, and now the current crop are making their name on the Bundesliga stage.
“We are very pleased to add the Bundesliga, one of the world’s top football leagues, to DAZN’s lineup,” said Yu Sasamoto, Chief Executive Officer of DAZN Japan.
“Many Japanese national team and Japanese players play active roles in the Bundesliga, and we look forward to delivering their performances to fans in Japan through DAZN.”
Closer to home, the Bundesliga and its clubs have been very active in bringing the best of German football to Japanese fans, including the first teams of Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart having each separately toured Japan over the last three years.
Furthermore, club partnerships such as those signed between 1. FC Köln-Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and VfL Bochum-Jubilo Iwata help to strengthen relationships between the two leagues.
On the ground, the Bundesliga has consistently created touchpoints for fans. As part of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, watch parties throughout the season are giving supporters another opportunity to gather together, with Bundesliga Legend Makoto Hasebe also attending the expo to meet with fans and share stories of his record-breaking time in the league.
