Germany coach Joachim Löw has also chosen Black and Red players for his squad: The 60-year-old has called up central defender Jonathan Tah (9 caps) and midfielder Nadiem Amiri (three). The duo have two games in the local vicinity. On Wednesday, 7 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST) there is a friendly against Turkey in Cologne. Following the Nations League clash in Ukraine on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST), the venue is again Cologne for the match against Switzerland on Tuesday, 13 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST).
Germany U21 coach Stefan Kuntz has picked two Leverkusen players for his squad. Goalkeeper Lennart Grill, signed from FC Kaiserslautern in the summer, is again included. The 21-year-old went the full distance between the sticks in the Euro qualifiers in September against Moldova (4-1) and Belgium (1-4).
In addition, Florian Wirtz could make his debut for the Germany U21s. If selected, the 17-year-old would be the youngest ever U21 player in the history of the German Football Association. The versatile attacking player was included in the squad for the internationals in September. However, Kuntz took him out of the squad as the youngster had not been able to prepare after playing for the Werkself in the Europa League finals tournament.
The Germany U21 side have Euro qualifiers in Moldova on 9 October and in Fürth on 13 October against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Both matches kick off at 18.15 CEST with the matches broadcast live on ProSieben MAXX.
The Austrian Werkself duo face an intensive international break. Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic have three games for Austria within seven days. On Wednesday, 7 October (kick-off: 20.30 CEST) there is an international against Greece in Klagenfurt. Four days later there is a Nation's League match against Northern Ireland in Belfast (kick-off: 20.45 CEST). Austria then play Romania in Ploiesti on Wednesday, 14 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST).
A trio of internationals, made up of the friendly and two Nations League matches, also awaits Lukas Hradecky (Finland), Tin Jedvaj (Croatia) and new signing Patrik Schick(Czech Republic).
All matches involving Bayer 04 players are listed below.
Four Black and Reds will be heading off to their home continent of South America for World Cup qualifiers. Captain Charles Aránguiz is set to play against Uruguay in Montevideo on Thursday, 8 October and six days later in Santiago de Chile there is a game against Colombia including new signing Santiago Arias.
The Argentinians Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios start their internationals on Friday, 9 October against Ecuador in Buenos Aires. For the second game, the Albiceleste travel to La Paz to play Bolivia on 13 October. Santiago Arias and Colombia first play Venezuela (Saturday, 10 October) before the meeting with Chile four days later.
Central defender Edmond Tapsoba is the only Werkself player in Africa during this international break. Burkina Faso have two friendlies. On Friday, 9 October the opposition are the Republic of the Congo and that's followed three days later by a game against Madagascar.
Moussa Diaby, who was voted Leverkusen Player of the Season 2019/20 by the Club members, is in the France U21 squad. As part of the European Championship qualifiers there is a game with Liechtenstein on Thursday, 8 October; the opponents on 12 October are Slovakia – again in Strasbourg.
Panos Retsos is in the Greece U21 squad for the game against Lithuania on 8 October and five days later against Croatia in Patras.
New signing Patrik Schick (Czech Republic) and Moussa Diaby (France U21s) were originally called up for international duty but both are sidelined through injuries suffered in the Stuttgart game – that means 14 Werkself players are now away on international duty.
Jonathan Tah and Nadiem Amiri (Germany):
Wednesday, 7 October (20.45 CEST/live on RTL): Germany v Turkey (Friendly)
Saturday, 10 October (20.45 CEST/live on ARD): Ukraine v Germany (UEFA Nations League)
Tuesday, 13. October (20.45 CEST/live on ARD): Germany v Switzerland (UEFA Nations League)
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria):
Wednesday, 7 October (20.30 CEST/live on DAZN): Austria v Greece (Friendly)
Sunday, 11 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Northern Ireland v Austria (UEFA Nations League)
Wednesday, 14 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Romania v Austria (UEFA Nations League)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Wednesday, 7 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Poland v Finland (Friendly)
Sunday, 11 October (18.00 CEST/live on DAZN): Finland v Bulgaria (UEFA Nations League)
Wednesday, 14 October (18.00 CEST/live on DAZN): Finland v Ireland (UEFA Nations League)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Wednesday, 7 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Switzerland v Croatia (Friendly)
Sunday, 11 October (18 .00 CEST/live on DAZN): Croatia v Sweden (UEFA Nations League)
Wednesday, 14 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Croatia v France (UEFA Nations League)
Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Friday, 9 October (02.10 CEST): Argentina v Ecuador (World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, 13 October (22.00 CEST): Bolivia v Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile):
Friday, 9 October (00.45 CEST): Uruguay v Chile (World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, 14 October (02.30 CEST): Chile v Colombia (World Cup qualifier)
Santiago Arias (Colombia):
Saturday, 10 October (01.30 CEST): Colombia v Venezuela (World Cup qualifier)
Tuesday, 14 October (02.30 CEST): Chile v Colombia (World Cup qualifier)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
Friday, 9 October: Burkina Faso v Republic of the Congo (Friendly)
Monday, 12 October: Burkina Faso v Madagascar (Friendly)
Lennart Grill and Florian Wirtz (Germany U21):
Friday, 9 October (18.15 CEST/live on ProSieben MAXX): Moldova U21 v Germany U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)
Tuesday, 13 October (18.15 CEST/live on ProSieben MAXX): Germany U21 v Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)
Panos Retsos (Greece U21):
Thursday, 8 October (17.30 CEST): Lithuania U21 v Greece U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)
Tuesday, 13 October (16.00 CEST): Greece U21 v Croatia U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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The next footballing highlight is just around the corner: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament, will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico and feature 48 teams for the first time. Bayer04.de has all the latest on the Werkself players called up to represent their countries.
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While the majority of the Bayer 04 Women are enjoying their summer break, nine Werkself players will be on duty for their national teams in the coming days. Three of them are competing for a place at the World Cup, while six are involved in two friendlies with the Germany U23 team.
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