125 Years DFB Ceremony

The celebration of the 125-year anniversary of DFB brought together 400 national and international guests, including Federal Chancellor Scholz, UEFA President Ceferin, FIFA President Infantino, representatives of clubs and football associations at home and abroad, as well as numerous football legends.

The team at Industrial Theater, under the direction of EnnoIlka Uhde, transformed the Leipzig Congress Hall into an atmospheric football arena as a setting for the celebration. Projections on the hall walls, mapping on the side balconies and stadium sounds created an immersive atmosphere. An imposing round screen floating above the central stage showed live images, 3D animations and film extracts.

The celebration followed the dramaturgical structure of a football match: It opened with the DFB hymn, the starting whistle was blown by a young referee and it was accompanied by a musical performance. A formation of eleven protagonists – classical musicians and a stadium DJ – made classical and pop music, live singing and instrumental music merge with soundtracks, goal celebrations and fans singing as a captivating soundscape.

TV journalist Arnd Zeigler and moderator Michael Steinbrecher provided entertaining interludes. In his speech, DFB President Neuendorf addressed both the glorious and the bleak, embarrassing chapters of the association’s history. Just before the official conclusion, the German national hymn rang out – like at a stadium – accompanied by largescale projections of texts and national colours.