WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 17, 2026) - D.C. United announced a friendly with the newest addition to the Bundesliga, SC Paderborn 07. The storied German club recently won promotion to the German first division by defeating Wolfsburg 2-1 in the second leg of the Bundesliga promotion/relegation playoff this past May. Paderborn will play at Audi Field, D.C. United’s 20,000-seat venue in downtown Washington DC on September 30 with kickoff set for 7:30pm ET.
Tickets for this friendly match against SC Paderborn 07 go on sale at 2:00pm ET this afternoon on Ticketmaster, with D.C. United and Audi Field email subscribers receiving an exclusive pre-sale, beginning at 12:00pm ET. Additionally, tickets for this friendly match are included in all D.C. United Full Season Ticket Member’s Packages and the United Subscription Pass.
“Hosting SC Paderborn 07 gives our fans the chance to see a club that just earned promotion to the Bundesliga, and it reflects how much soccer means across the DMV," said Danita Johnson, D.C. United President of Business Operations. "Audi Field is at its best when it brings our supporters and the broader community together, and that's what we set out to build here.
SC Paderborn open their pre-season campaign with a friendly against amateur side SC Blau-Weiß Ostenland on July 5 before facing Phönix Lübeck in the first round of the German Cup between August 21 and 24.
“Onside Sports is grateful to support D.C. United in bringing the Bundesliga club SC Paderborn 07 for an international friendly match to Audi Field," said Boris Kalff, Head of International at Onside Sports.
About SC Paderborn 07
Located in North-Rhine/Westphalia, SC Paderborn 07 was founded in 1985 when two clubs, TuS Schloss Neuhaus and FC Paderborn, merged. The club took on the name of SC Paderborn 07, named after TuS Neuhaus' founding date of 1907. Since 1985, Paderborn have competed in each of Germany’s top five football divisions, most notably earning consecutive promotions in 2017–18 and 2018–19 to rise from the 3. Liga to the Bundesliga.
This past 2025-26 season, Paderborn earned 62 points and qualified for the Bundesliga promotion/relegation playoff to face VfL Wolfsburg. After drawing 0-0 away at Wolfsburg, Paderborn bested the Wolves 2-1 in the reverse fixture, scoring an extra time winner in the 99th minute earning promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2019/2020.
About D.C. United
One of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer in 1996, D.C. United are among the most decorated teams in the United States with 13 domestic and international trophies.
D.C. United have called the District home for the last 28 seasons and play their home games at Audi Field in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, D.C, which opened in 2018. In addition to D.C. United games, the 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium hosts over 100 events year-round and is home to America’s number one sportsbook through a partnership with FanDuel Group.
The Black-and-Red train at the United Performance Complex, a state-of-the-art training facility and performance center located in Leesburg, Va. The 40,000 square foot 30-acre training facility, that opened in 2021, features four outdoor practice fields, and a training center equipped with a weight room and recovery facilities.
The Black-and-Red have won the MLS Cup four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), the Supporters’ Shield four times (1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times (1996, 2008 and 2013). For more information and club updates, please visit www.dcunited.com and find us on social media @dcunited.
