FC Schalke 04 are back in the Bundesliga. The Royal Blues clinched promotion and the 2. Bundesliga title on May 2, 2026, with a 1-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf, triggering scenes of euphoria across Gelsenkirchen that the city hadn’t experienced in years.
The victory sealed the championship with two matchdays still remaining in the season.
The road back to the top flight
Schalke’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. The club was relegated from the Bundesliga in 2021, a painful descent for a team that holds seven German championship titles in its history. They fought their way back up, only to suffer relegation again in 2023, dropping into the 2. Bundesliga for what would become a three-season stay.
Two players in particular deserve significant credit. Forward Edin Džeko, who returned to the club in January, injected experience and attacking quality into a squad that clearly needed both. Goalkeeper Loris Karius was equally instrumental in securing promotion back to the Bundesliga.
