Germany - Good to know: 

Soccer Fields and Basketball Courts – Is Germany’s Sports Culture Changing?

Germany is known as a soccer nation. Soccer has influenced our everyday culture for decades. Many children’s first experience with organized sports is on the soccer field. During major tournaments like the European Championship or World Cup, the entire country cheers for the national team. Weekend activities often revolve around soccer; playing in local clubs, watching your kids play or watching professional matches live or on TV. One could conclude that no other sport stands a chance against soccer in Germany.

However, recently, at least for a brief moment, another sport stole soccer the show. On September 14, 2025, the German men's basketball team won the European Championship against Turkey in a dramatic final with a score of 88:83.

Over the past few decades, basketball has grown from a niche sport into a firmly established part of Germany’s sports identity. While it still competes with soccer for public attention, its popularity, especially among younger people, is steadily growing.

German basketball player Dirk Nowitzki, a legend in the global basketball world has contributed significantly to the popularity of the sport in Germany. The Würzburg-born forward had a great career in the NBA, winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023. He also represented Germany as the flag bearer at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

A major basketball breakthrough came in 2023, when the German national basketball team won the FIBA World Cup; an historic achievement that significantly contributed to the sport’s popularity across the country.

The European Championship title is now the climax of the most successful period in German basketball history. After winning bronze at the 2022 European Championships, gold at the 2023 World Championships, and fourth place at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the team's recent victory at the European Championship drew the nation’s attention once again on basketball. Players like Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner are now celebrated as national heroes and role models for a new generation of athletes.

Beyond the court, basketball is also capitalizing on its growing popularity, with schools, clubs, and communities using the sport to promote integration, team spirit and personal development. The sport’s accessibility, e.g. no need for expensive equipment, makes it popular across different social and cultural backgrounds which is also visible in the cultural and national diversity of the German team.

And although soccer still holds the spotlight, basketball is increasingly demanding its own space and attention in Germany’s sports culture. Its growing popularity shows that Germany has more to offer in the field of sports than just soccer.