Football fans in India have exciting news. Indian national broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s streaming platform, WAVES OTT, in partnership with DFB-Pokal (German domestic football tournament), will stream the semi-final matches live on April 2 and 3, followed by the grand finale on May 24.

To also strengthen football ties between India and Germany, Prasar Bharati and DFB have signed an important agreement to bring more football content to India and launch an Under-17 talent search, where 20 young Indian players will get a chance to train in Germany, an official statement stated yesterday.

Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati, stated, “This collaboration with DFB not only brings top-tier football action to Indian audiences but also opens doors for our young footballers to gain international exposure. By integrating high-quality content with grassroots development, we are fostering a stronger football culture in India and providing our youth with unprecedented global opportunities.”

DFB-Pokal (Deutscher Football-Bund Pokal) is Germany’s premier domestic football competition organized by the German Football Association (DFB).

Dr. Holger Blask, Managing Director of the DFB GmbH & Co. KG, added: “We are extremely proud and excited about this ground-breaking cooperation with Prasar Bharati. Their unparalleled free to air reach through WAVES and DD Sports sets the cornerstone of DFB’s strategy to democratize the DFB-Pokal.

“With its truly aspirational character and many David vs Goliath moments, the DFB-Pokal fits perfectly with the Indian football fans.”

The DFB-Prasar Bharati collaboration will also pave the way for an India-wide Under-17 talent search tournament, where 20 promising young players will be selected for an exclusive training program in Germany, facilitated by DFB and its partner Brand Next.

Adding to the excitement, an exclusive contest is being launched, giving two lucky Indian fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany for the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin — which has its own terms and conditions attached to it, of course.

Participants must download the WAVES OTT app, watch the DFB-Pokal semi-final matches and answer simple questions. The winners will be announced during the last semi-final match and will have the chance to witness the final live in Germany.

As part of its commitment to football education and outreach, WAVES OTT will also feature a DFB-Pokal tutorial series, providing users with historical insights, archival footage, and expert analysis to deepen their understanding of Germany’s prestigious knockout tournament.