Wolfsburg go into the new Bundesliga 2 season as the obvious name at the top of the promotion conversation. They were relegated after 29 years in Germany's top flight, finished 16th in the Bundesliga with 29 points from 34 matches, and now have the weight of an immediate return on them. Hannover 96 are the other club that stands out straight away, after missing promotion by two points last season.
Wolfsburg's status and Hannover's near-miss
The favourite tag is not a mystery. Dieter Hecking said Wolfsburg know they are regarded as favourites, while Tobias Strobl said they now feel ready for the start of the season. That is the starting point here, but it is not the whole story. Wolfsburg's relegation came after almost three decades in the top flight, which puts their first year back in the second tier under immediate scrutiny.
Hannover's case is different. They did not fall away; they were close, finishing two points behind second-placed Elversberg. Benjamin Källman gives them a clean attacking reference too, after scoring 14 Bundesliga 2 goals in 2025/26. That is the kind of output that keeps a promotion bid alive across a full season, and it is why the gap between Wolfsburg and Hannover may be smaller than the badge history suggests.
The wider chasing pack
Hertha Berlin stabilised in seventh last season, Kaiserslautern's Fritz-Walter-Stadion holds 49,000 and is regularly sold out, and Darmstadt have real cohesion, according to Florian Kohfeldt. He said, "We've developed a real sense of togetherness," and added that the atmosphere inside the squad is not something you can simply manufacture.
Heidenheim belong in the same conversation for a different reason. Frank Schmidt is starting his 19th season as Heidenheim boss and his 10th in the second tier, and his side won three of their last five league games and drew with Bayern Munich. Schmidt said, "No one needs to be fearful," which fits a club trying to treat relegation as a reset rather than a collapse.
The early shape of the race is clear enough. Wolfsburg bring the biggest expectation, Hannover bring the closest evidence of unfinished business, and Källman's 14-goal season gives the latter a proper edge in the final third. The season will sort out the rest, but those two clubs already look like the main benchmark for everyone else.
FAQ
Who are the early favourites in the Bundesliga 2 promotion race?
Wolfsburg are the obvious favourites because they were relegated after 29 years in Germany's top flight. Hannover 96 are the strongest challenger after finishing two points behind second-placed Elversberg, while Benjamin Källman's 14 goals give them a clear attacking reference.
Why are Wolfsburg expected to go back up quickly?
Wolfsburg finished 16th in the Bundesliga with 29 points from 34 matches, so they enter the second tier as immediate-rebound candidates rather than a mid-table side. Dieter Hecking says they are regarded as favourites, but Tobias Strobl says they now feel ready for the start of the season.
How close was Hannover 96 to promotion last season?
Hannover finished two points behind second-placed Elversberg, so their missed promotion was marginal rather than structural. Benjamin Källman scored 14 Bundesliga 2 goals in 2025/26, which gives them a proven striker to build around.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
