1. FC Union Berlin

1. FC Union Berlin is a club from the German capital with a strong working-class and popular identity, based in the Köpenick district. It became a symbol of cultural resistance in former East Berlin and secured its place in the elite of German football in the modern era, including historic participation in the UEFA Champions League.

History

Founded on January 20, 1906 from working-class clubs in Oberschöneweide, Union Berlin established itself as the popular club of East Berlin during Germany's division. While Dynamo Berlin was favored by the East German regime, Union accumulated followers among workers and dissidents, becoming a symbol of resistance. One of football's most singular traditions emerged at the club: the Christmas concert of fan chants at Stadion An der Alten Försterei, built in part through the voluntary efforts of fans themselves in the 1970s. This participatory culture sets Union apart from virtually all European football. The major sporting turnaround came in 2019, when the club achieved unprecedented promotion to the Bundesliga by defeating Hamburger SV in the promotion playoff. Contrary to all expectations, Union not only maintained its place in the top division but grew consistently, finishing fourth in 2022-23 and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in history. Stadion An der Alten Försterei, with a capacity of around 22,000 fans, produces one of the most intense atmospheres in European football. Union Berlin is today considered one of the continent's clubs with the greatest identity and authenticity, a bottom-to-top story that inspires global football.