The new 2. Bundesliga season kicks off at the Volkswagen Arena with Wolfsburg hosting Kaiserslautern in what promises to be a closely contested opener. Both sides enter with fresh squads and no competitive form to measure, making the early exchanges a test of preparation and…
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Sign inRelegated VfL Wolfsburg open their 2026/27 2. Bundesliga campaign against 1. FC Kaiserslautern at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday, 8 August. Kick-off is set for 20:30 CET as the Wolves begin life in the second tier with the clear ambition of an immediate return to the top flight.
Head coach Tobias Strobl oversaw a summer of significant change, with seven of the eleven starters in the final pre-season friendly against SC Telstar being new signings. The Wolves beat the Dutch top-flight side 3-1, showing the “directness of our play” that Strobl highlighted afterwards. Alessio Besio struck the bar inside 40 seconds, then set up Robert Glatzel’s ninth-minute opener, and the hosts were 3-0 up by half-time. Only Vinícius Souza, Mathys Angély, Saël Kumbedi and Joakim Mæhle carried over from the previous season’s squad – Angély having returned from a loan at Anderlecht.
Strobl, who used a 3-3-2-2 shape in that friendly, said: “We saw a lot of positive things, but also identified the areas we still need to work on. Verl and Telstar challenged us with their defensive versatility. That was important for our development. I was also very pleased with the directness of our play. We now feel ready for the start of the season.”
One player who will be central to Wolfsburg’s midfield is Vinícius Souza. The Brazilian attracted a concrete offer from 1. FC Köln this summer, which Wolfsburg promptly rejected. Souza, deployed as a defensively-minded link player, finally found his rhythm in the closing weeks of the relegation campaign, showing the ability to win challenges in deeper areas and connect with forward runs. His presence anchors a largely unfamiliar unit.
Attacker Mohamed Amoura’s involvement is less certain. An adviser to the Algerian claimed advanced talks with RB Leipzig, though Sky Germany has disputed the report. Until his situation is resolved, Amoura may not be risked from the start.
While Wolfsburg arrive amid a rebuild, 1. FC Kaiserslautern bring the stability of a side that has settled in the 2. Bundesliga. The Red Devils have not disclosed major injury concerns ahead of the trip, and their experienced core will relish the chance to spoil Wolfsburg’s opening-night party. The fixture pits the financial muscle and top-flight pedigree of the Wolves against a club steeped in German football tradition – a reminder that the 2. Bundesliga offers no gentle introduction.
With 33 rounds to follow, Saturday’s curtain-raiser will not define either club’s season, but it will offer a clear sign of how quickly Wolfsburg’s new pieces can mesh. For Strobl’s side, the aim is three points that would immediately put distance between themselves and the pre-season doubters. For Kaiserslautern, a result in Wolfsburg would underline their own credentials.
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