Buy Union Berlin vs FC Koln tickets for the 2026/27 Season. Union host Koln at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday 31 October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30 local time in matchday eight of the Bundesliga. The German league confirms exact slots in batches through the season, so a shift to the Friday night or Sunday afternoon window remains possible until the round is locked in. Anyone booking flights around this one should plan for a weekend rather than a single afternoon.
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Köpenick is the tightest ticket in the Bundesliga for a reason. The ground holds 22,012, of which 18,395 are standing places, so the seated supply is smaller than the away allocation at some Premier League stadiums. That single number explains almost everything about how Union Berlin tickets behave: season ticket holders and members absorb the vast majority before a general window ever opens.
There is an added wrinkle this season. The two clubs are also paired in the second round of the German cup in Cologne four days earlier, on 27 October 2026, which means supporters on both sides are making two travel decisions inside a week. Whichever way the cup tie goes, it will colour the mood at the Alte Försterei on the Saturday.
Union have not lost a Bundesliga match to Koln at this ground. Six league meetings in Köpenick have produced four home wins and two draws, with the visitors scoring just three goals across the lot. That record is well known among the home support, which turns a mid-table fixture into one people expect to win.
Koln bring one of the largest travelling followings in German football. Demand for FC Koln tickets has climbed since their return to the top flight. The away sector in Köpenick is small in absolute terms, so the allocation is exhausted long before the match. The overflow inevitably looks for seats elsewhere in the ground.
The cup tie four days earlier compounds the problem. A knockout meeting in Cologne immediately followed by a league meeting in Berlin turns a routine weekend into a genuine rivalry week, with interest in both fixtures feeding off the other. Neutral buyers in Berlin tend to notice that kind of build-up.
Then there is the ground itself. The Alte Försterei has become a destination for supporters touring German football, drawn by a terrace that holds more people than the entire seated section. That tourist demand sits on top of local demand rather than replacing it, which is why sell-outs here are the norm rather than the exception.
Not easily through the front door. Union operate a priority structure in which season ticket holders are served first, then members, then, if anything survives, the general public. For most league fixtures the allocation is gone during the member windows, which is why the club's own sales pages so often show nothing available.
Season tickets themselves are the reason. Standing Dauerkarten run at roughly 238 to 272 euros for a full-price adult, with seated equivalents in the main stand reaching several times that. Demand for them has outstripped supply for years. A season ticket in Köpenick is treated as something you inherit rather than something you buy.
Membership helps but does not guarantee anything. Members get access to earlier windows plus ballots for the highest-demand fixtures, though a Saturday afternoon meeting with a well-supported visiting club is exactly the sort of game where a member window closes within hours. Joining the club weeks before a match you want to attend is not a workable plan.
That leaves the resale market as the realistic route for anyone outside the membership base. Listings come from season ticket holders who cannot make a particular weekend, from members who took their full entitlement plus from supporters whose plans changed. It is how visiting buyers, neutrals and overseas travellers get into a ground that sells out on its own supporters.
Five things move the price of any listing here. Sector comes first, because the gap between a terrace place and a seat in the main stand is wider at this ground than the raw face values suggest. Demand is second. For a fixture with a cup tie attached four days earlier it sits above the Union baseline.
Fixture timing is third: a Saturday 15:30 slot is the most accessible in German football for domestic travel, which lifts competition for every category. Competition context is fourth, because a league meeting between two clubs already drawn together in the cup carries more weight than a routine round. Hospitality tier is fifth. In a ground with only 3,617 seats the premium product is genuinely scarce.
| Ticket Type | Resale Price Range | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sektor 4 standing (quieter end) | £30 – £55 | First-time visitors who want the terrace experience | Behind the goal, calmer than the ultras end, sits alongside the visiting section |
| Gegengerade standing | £40 – £75 | Balance of atmosphere and view | The long side terrace. Blocks nearer the Waldseite end are noticeably louder |
| Waldseite standing | £45 – £85 | Supporters who want the singing end | Home of the ultras, backing onto the forest. Continuous standing and chanting throughout |
| Haupttribüne seating | £85 – £160+ | Buyers who need a numbered seat | The only seated stand in the ground. Supply is capped at 3,617 places in total |
| Business seats and boxes | £200 – £400+ | Corporate guests plus milestone trips | Main stand only, sold as packages with catering. Very limited inventory |
Prices reflect typical resale ranges and may change as demand and availability shift closer to the match.
One structural point worth understanding. Because the seated section is so small relative to the terraces, the price gap between standing and seated at this ground is proportionally larger than at almost any other Bundesliga venue. If you are comfortable standing for 90 minutes, your money goes considerably further here than it would in Dortmund or Munich.
The cup tie is the wildcard in the pricing curve. A knockout meeting on the Tuesday gives the league fixture a result to react to, so listings in the final week can move in either direction depending on what happens in Cologne. Buyers who want certainty on price rather than a gamble on narrative are better served booking before that tie is played.
The Alte Försterei runs on a five-sector layout rather than the four-stand model most buyers expect. Sektor 1 is the Haupttribüne, the single seated stand along one touchline. Sektor 2 is the Waldseite terrace behind the goal, Sektor 3 the Gegengerade along the opposite touchline, Sektor 4 the terrace behind the far goal plus Sektor 5 the visiting section.
Terrace tickets do not carry a seat number, which catches out buyers used to English or Italian grounds. You get access to a block and you choose your spot within it, so arriving 40 minutes early matters far more here than it would at a ground with allocated seating. Groups who want to stand together should treat early arrival as part of the plan.
| Area | What It Suits | Pricing Bracket | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sektor 2, Waldseite | Ultras, flags, continuous singing | Mid | You will stand and sing for the full match. Not the block for anyone wanting a clear tactical view |
| Sektor 3, Gegengerade | Most visiting neutrals | Mid | The reliable compromise: terrace atmosphere with a proper side-on view of the pitch |
| Sektor 4 | Families plus first-time terrace visitors | Lower | Behind the far goal and generally calmer. Sits next to the visiting support, so keep colours neutral |
| Sektor 1, Haupttribüne | Anyone who needs a numbered seat | Higher | Covered and central, the only place in the ground where you are guaranteed a specific position |
| Sektor 5, visiting section | Koln supporters | Set by allocation | Segregated entry and its own concourse. Visiting colours belong here and nowhere else in the ground |
| Accessible positions | Wheelchair users plus companions | Concession pricing | Very limited at a ground of this size and allocated in advance. Arrange these directly rather than relying on resale |
For neutral buyers still weighing it up, the Gegengerade is the honest answer. It gives you the terrace, the noise and a side-on view without placing you in the middle of the ultras block. It is the sector most visiting supporters end up recommending afterwards. Koln fans buying outside the visiting allocation should wear neutral clothing, since German clubs enforce colours rules in home sections firmly.
Premium provision at the Alte Försterei is concentrated entirely in the main stand, which doubles as a conference and events venue outside matchdays. The scale is modest by Bundesliga standards. That scarcity is precisely what makes it worth booking early rather than hoping something appears in the final week.
| Hospitality Option | Typical Buyer | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Business seats, main stand | Visitors marking an occasion | Padded central seating with lounge access before the match and at half time |
| Private boxes | Companies hosting guests | Enclosed box with catering plus dedicated service. A small number exist, so they move early |
| Main stand event spaces | Larger corporate groups | Function rooms attached to the stand, used for pre-match hosting on matchdays |
| Group seated blocks | Travel parties of eight or more | Seats held together in the one stand where a specific position is guaranteed |
Two buyers should think seriously about the step up. Anyone attending in late October, when Berlin afternoons turn cold and the terraces are exposed, will feel the difference in a covered stand. So will any group that needs to stay together, because keeping eight people in one place on an open terrace is a matter of luck rather than planning.
Hospitality packages are typically named to the lead booker and carry tighter transfer conditions than a standard terrace ticket. Read those conditions at the point of purchase rather than on the morning of the match.
German clubs have moved decisively towards digital ticketing, with Union processing most match tickets through their own app or as print-at-home documents. Personalised tickets are common for higher-category fixtures, so the details you enter at purchase can matter at the turnstile.
| Delivery Type | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Mobile transfer | That the phone number or email on the order matches yours. Confirm the transfer has completed before you fly. A screenshot will not scan at the gate |
| Print-at-home or PDF | That the file opens cleanly with a legible barcode. Print a spare rather than depending on hotel wi-fi on the morning of the match |
| Collection in Berlin | The collection point, its opening hours plus which document you need to present. Allow time on matchday, since Köpenick gets busy early |
| Courier or physical delivery | That the address stays valid for the whole delivery window. Somebody must be available to sign for the package |
Whatever the listing specifies, read the seller's delivery note before paying, carry photo identification to the ground plus charge your phone before you set off. Gates open well ahead of kick-off. On a terrace that early hour is what determines where you actually stand.
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Step1
Open the fixture listing
Go to the match page for the 31 October meeting in Berlin. Confirm the date at the top of the page first, because the two clubs meet twice inside a week this autumn.
Step2
Set up your account
You can create an account in a minute or two. Use the name that appears on your identification, since personalised tickets are common in German football.
Step3
Decide standing or seated before you sort by price
This is the single biggest choice at this ground. A terrace place and a main stand seat are different products, not different price points for the same experience.
Step4
Set your quantity first
Choose how many places you need before browsing, so only listings that split your way appear. Groups of four or more should do this as early in the window as possible.
Step5
Read the listing notes
Each listing states the sector, the delivery method plus any restrictions. On a terrace listing, note that the sector is guaranteed while a specific spot within it is not.
Step6
Review the full cost
The payment screen shows the ticket price with fees and delivery before you commit. Compare totals between listings rather than headline prices.
Step7
Complete the purchase
Pay through the secure payment page and keep the confirmation email. It carries the order reference you will need for any delivery query.
Step8
Follow the order through to delivery
Use the track order function to watch the status move from confirmed to delivered. Confirm delivery before you travel rather than after you land in Berlin.
Köpenick sits in the south-east of the city, well outside the tourist centre, so build the journey into your plans rather than treating the ground as a short hop from Mitte. The S-Bahn reaches the area comfortably from the centre, though matchday services fill up. The walk from the station through the woods is part of the experience rather than an inconvenience.
Berlin works well as a two-night trip for this fixture. The city's airport connects to most European hubs, the transfer into town is straightforward, plus a Saturday afternoon kick-off leaves the evening free rather than swallowing it. Anyone combining the trip with the cup tie earlier in the week should treat them as two separate journeys, since Cologne and Berlin sit at opposite ends of the country.
Overseas buyers should favour a delivery method that travels with them. Mobile transfer and print-at-home options work from anywhere, whereas courier delivery ties you to one address for the whole window. Ask for written confirmation that a multi-place listing sits in a single sector. Remember that terrace tickets place you in a block rather than in a specific spot.
The date is the other thing to watch. Because German kick-off slots are confirmed in batches, a fixture pencilled in for Saturday afternoon can still move within the weekend, which matters if you have booked a Sunday morning flight home. If the October date proves impossible, FC Koln vs Union Berlin tickets for the return meeting in March 2027 offer a much larger venue with a very different feel.
These clubs had never met in the top flight before Union's promotion in 2019. The first meeting at the Alte Försterei set the pattern immediately. Union won 2-0 that December, since when something about the ground has troubled Koln. Six league visits have produced no away win at all.
The run has survived very different versions of both teams. Union beat Koln 2-1 in front of empty stands in March 2021, edged a 1-0 in April 2022 during their push into Europe, then ground out a goalless afternoon in March 2023. Even the 2-0 in December 2023, in a season when Union were struggling badly, followed the same script.
Part of the explanation is the ground rather than the teams. Three sides of the Alte Försterei are terracing that sits close to the pitch, which produces a volume and a proximity most visiting sides simply do not encounter week to week. Add a compact playing surface plus a home crowd that expects to win this specific fixture. The away dressing room is dealing with more than the opposition.
What makes the 2026/27 meeting different is that Koln arrive with the sequence firmly in mind. They came closer last May than on any previous visit, though recovering a two-goal deficit is not the same as holding a lead in Köpenick. The cup tie four days earlier also gives both sides a reading on each other that neither has had before. A record this one-sided tends to end eventually.
The table covers Bundesliga meetings hosted by Union Berlin at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Fixtures played in Cologne, in cup competitions or in the divisions below are excluded.
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 6 |
| Union Berlin wins | 4 |
| FC Koln wins | 0 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Union Berlin goals | 9 |
| FC Koln goals | 3 |
| Biggest Union Berlin win | 2-0 (8 December 2019 and 20 December 2023) |
| Biggest FC Koln win | None recorded in scope |
| First Bundesliga meeting in scope | 8 December 2019 |
| Most recent meeting in scope | 2 May 2026 |
Figures calculated from the verified match-by-match record below. Results cross-referenced against the German federation's data centre, worldfootball.net archives plus ESPN and FOX Sports match reports.
All six Bundesliga fixtures Union Berlin have hosted against Koln at this ground, newest first.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| 02 May 2026 | 2-2 |
| 20 Dec 2023 | 2-0 |
| 04 Mar 2023 | 0-0 |
| 01 Apr 2022 | 1-0 |
| 13 Mar 2021 | 2-1 |
| 08 Dec 2019 | 2-0 |
Scores listed with Union Berlin first. Every result confirmed against two independent match archives.
No, but membership is how most face-value tickets are distributed, so the general window often opens with nothing left. Resale is the practical route for anyone outside that base.
No. A standing ticket admits you to a sector and you pick your position inside it, which is why arriving early makes a real difference at this ground.
Visiting fans are housed in Sektor 5, with segregated entry and their own concourse. Visiting colours are not accepted in the home sectors.
That depends on the seller. Every listing states the method before payment. Mobile transfer and print-at-home documents are the most common for German league fixtures.
It is if you need a guaranteed position, cover from the weather or a numbered place for a group. If not, the terraces give you more of what this ground is known for.
Sources: the German football federation's official data centre for historical league results; worldfootball.net and weltfussball Bundesliga archives; ESPN and FOX Sports match reports; kicker and Sportschau match coverage; Bundesliga fixture and kick-off announcements; the club's own stadium and ticketing information for capacity, sector layout and sales structure.