On September 2 at 02:45 Beijing time (CEST), in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, HEBC (Hamburg Eimsbütteler Ballspiel Club), a fifth-tier amateur team from Hamburg, will face Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga runner-up and a Champions League participant.

According to Bild, the match will be held at Hamburg's home stadium, the Volksparkstadion. The mode of transport for HEBC to reach the stadium is quite unique.

No team bus—they use public transport to play in the DFB-Pokal.

Initially, HEBC planned to cycle to the Volksparkstadion on match day. With their base located about 5 kilometers from the stadium, they even considered the journey as a warm-up before the match.

However, the team ultimately secured more comfortable transportation.

Since HEBC had no team bus of its own, Hamburger Hochbahn AG (Hamburg's elevated and underground railway operator) specially provided a regular bus for the team to transport the amateur side to the match venue. (Hamburger Hochbahn AG is the major public transport operator in Hamburg, Germany, responsible for operating most of the city's underground and bus network.)

What's more interesting is that the bus will undergo special modifications, featuring HEBC's club emblem and colors. The team's players even personally participated in the vehicle modification work.

HEBC club president Konstantin Zimmermann said: "It's fitting that it's Hamburg's public transport that will take us to one of the most important matches in our club's history—it perfectly reflects HEBC's character. We are an amateur team, and even facing opponents like Borussia Dortmund, we remain humble."

Of course, facing such a lopsided matchup, Zimmermann couldn't help but imagine the possibility of an upset. He said jokingly:

"Maybe on September 1, Hamburg's public transport will take us somewhere no one has ever expected."

Nearly 40,000 tickets have been sold.

This match is hugely significant for HEBC.

Currently, approximately 39,000 tickets have been sold. This is HEBC's first appearance in the main round of the DFB-Pokal in the club's history.

Team captain Tjark-Ole Kohler, 30, is thrilled about it: "Reaching the DFB-Pokal is the best thing a player can experience."

In fact, HEBC previously participated in the predecessor of the DFB-Pokal—the Tschammer-Pokal.

In 1935, the team lost 0-7 to local rivals Eimsbütteler TV in the first round.

However, this time their opponent is far stronger—Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Dortmund.

No players from the cup-winning squad will be absent.

Beyond preparing a special team bus, HEBC has made special arrangements for this DFB-Pokal showdown.

In May of this year, in the Hamburg State Cup final, HEBC defeated Vorwärts-Wacker Billstedt 5-1, winning the Hamburg State Cup for the first time in club history and thus earning their DFB-Pokal berth.

There were 19 players who participated in that final and remain with the team.

The club decided that all 19 players will be included in the squad against Borussia Dortmund.

Furthermore, to allow every player to personally experience playing in the DFB-Pokal at the Volksparkstadion, those who ultimately do not make the official match squad will also be permitted to warm up on the pitch before the match.

It has been reported that this arrangement has been communicated to the German Football Association.

For a fifth-tier amateur team in Germany, stepping onto the Volksparkstadion pitch and facing a top-flight side like Borussia Dortmund is an unforgettable football story.

And they will make the journey aboard a public bus, decorated with their club's emblem and colors, to embrace this "match of a lifetime" in their club's history.

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