
A number of current and former top athletes are set to take part in the third charity football match to be held at the home of the Werkself. Proceeds from the game will go to the 41 Campus Project of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and projects run by the Keep Fighting Foundation of the Schumacher family.
The event starts at 16.30 CET and there will be a wide range of activities in and around the BayArena.
The two teams, ' Nowitzki All-Stars' and 'Schumacher & Friends’ will be able to count on support from the Bayer 04 ranks: Simon Rolfes and Stefan Kießling have already said yes to Dirk and Mick. One or two other Werkself players from the current squad will also make an appearance at the event - Peter Bosz and his players are set to return to Leverkusen from the training In Zell am See/Kaprun just before the match.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to Germany in the summer and taking part in a great football event with the fans and lots of athletes. Even if I'm not the most talented footballer, it's always great fun and I'll do my best," said Nowitzki. "I'm looking forward to an exciting and successful Champions for Charity event in Leverkusen," added his opposite number Schumacher.
Tickets for the Champions for Charity event are available now from €10 at www.champions-for-charity.de.

Panagiotis, known as Panos, Retsos wore the Bayer 04 jersey for three years. Including his loan spells, he was under contract with the Werkself for a total of four and a half years. "It's a very special club for me," said the 27-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club Olympiacos in 2022, in an interview with bayer04.de. The former Leverkusen man is now captain and a first choice for the Werkself's next opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday night, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Retsos talks about his fond memories of his time in Leverkusen and the imminent reunion with some of his former team-mates. He also talks about who brought him to Leverkusen and why he likes getting older.
Show more
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.
Show more
After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.
Show more
"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.
Show more