
Florian Wirtz is flying the flag for Bayer 04 with the Germany squad for the forthcoming three World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein (2 September, 20.45 CEST), Armenia (5 September, 20.45 CEST) and Iceland (8 September, 20.45 CEST). The new Germany coach Hansi Flick announced his call-up on Friday.
Wirtz, who was in the squad for the first game against Iceland (3-0) plus the matches against Romania (1-0) and North Macedonia (1-2), can again hope to make his senior debut for Germany. There are another 13 Werkself players on international duty in addition to the 18-year-old.
Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong have been selected for the Netherlands U21 team. The Bayer 04 duo are with the Oranje for the European championship qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday, 7 September at 18.45 CEST.
The Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky and striker Joel Pohjanpalo are with the Finland squad for three matches – a friendly against Wales (1 September) plus two World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan (4 September) and France (7 September). The two Scandinavians will face their teammate Moussa Diaby. France coach Didier Deschamps called up the 22-year-old to the World Cup winners squad for the first time on Thursday.
Also away with their national teams are Charles Aránguiz (Chile) and Piero Hincapie (Ecuador) with the two of them set to face each other in the World Cup qualifier between Chile and Ecuador (5 September). The Bayer 04 South American group is completed by Exequiel Palacios, who has been called up to the Argentina squad: The team around including Lionel Messi play Venezuela (2 September), Brazil (5 September) and Bolivia (9 September).
Also away on international duty other Leverkusen players Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast), Andrey Lunev (Russia), Panagiotis Retsos (Greece), Zidan Sertdemir (Denmark U17) and Emrehan Gedikli (Germany U19s).
Charles Aránguiz (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Chile vs Brazil, Santiago
5.9. Ecuador vs Chile, Quito
9.9. Colombia vs Chile, Bogota
Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong (U21 Euro qualifiers)
7.9. Netherlands vs Moldova, Deventer
Moussa Diaby (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. France vs Bosnia-Herzegovina, Strasbourg
4.9. Ukraine vs France, Kiev
7.9. France vs Finland, Lyon
Emrehan Gedikli (U19 friendlies)
3.9. Germany vs Switzerland, Bad Dürrheim
6.9. Germany vs England, Bad Dürrheim
Piero Hincapie (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Ecuador vs Paraguay, Quito
5.9. Ecuador vs Chile, Quito
9.9. Uruguay vs Ecuador, Montevideo
Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Finland vs Wales, Helsinki (Friendly)
4.9. Finland vs Kazakhstan, Helsinki
7.9. France vs Finland, Lyon
Odilon Kossounou (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Mozambique vs Ivory Coast, Maputo
6.9. Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, Abidjan
Andrey Lunev (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Russia vs Croatia, Moscow
4.9. Cyprus vs Russia, Nicosia
7.9. Russia vs Malta, Moscow
Exequiel Palacios (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Venezuela vs Argentina, San Cristobal
5.9. Brazil vs Argentina, Rio de Janeiro
9.9. Argentina vs Bolivia, Buenos Aires
Panos Retsos (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Switzerland vs Greece, Basel
5.9. Kosovo vs Greece, Pristina
8.9. Greece vs Sweden, Athens
Zidan Sertdemir (U17 friendlies)
3.9. Denmark vs Austria, Skagen
6.9. Denmark vs Austria, Frederikshavn
Florian Wirtz (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Liechtenstein vs Germany, St. Gallen
5.9. Germany vs Armenia, Stuttgart
8.9. Iceland vs Germany, Reykjavik

The clubs in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga have opened a new chapter in the history of women's football in Germany. With the official founding act of the "Frauen-Bundesliga FBL e.V." on Wednesday afternoon in Frankfurt am Main, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the 13 other top-flight clubs have joined forces for the first time.
Show more
The Bayer 04 U19s today, Wednesday 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET), host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday in the league phase of the UEFA Youth League. For coach Kevin Brok's team, the game against the English side is about securing a place in the next stage of the competition and a historic first appearance in the knockout phase. Werkself TV will broadcast the match live and free of charge from the Ulrich Haberland Stadium from 13:50 CET...
Show more
Will Bayer 04 emulate their away wins at Benfica and Manchester City? Newcastle United are the visitors at a sold-out BayArena on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET/live on Werkself Radio) to round off the UEFA Champions League games for the year. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke in advance about the momentum in Europe's premier club competition and gave an encouraging personnel update. Jarell Quansah also spoke about his experiences playing against Nick Woltemade and his wish for the Bayer 04 fans.
Show more
Newcastle United have amassed nine points after five matchdays, one more in the UEFA Champions League than the Werkself. The Magpies are also steadily improving in the Premier League, where they're currently unbeaten in four games. On Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Eddie Howe's side will be the visitors at the BayArena. He's also likely to field two Germany internationals in the game. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
Show more