A first highlight of Bayer 04's Mexico Tour 2022: The Werkself play Mexican top-flight club Deportivo Toluca on Tuesday 17 May at the Estadio Nemesio Diez. The venue has a capacity of 30,000 and is not far away from the biggest Bayer site in Mexico.
The Werkself Woman's team will play a Club América side at the legendary Aztec Stadium in Mexico City a few weeks later. Club América are one of the biggest clubs in the country and are currently fourth in the MX Femenil league.
While the team led by coach Achim Feifel will be in Mexico from 11 to 16 July, the squad under head coach Gerardo Seoane will fly out the day after the last game of the season against SC Freiburg (14 May) and will be in the country from 15 to 20 May.
"We are extremely happy to be part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Bayer Mexico," said Fernando Carro, the Bayer 04 CEO. "Over recent years we have worked hard to increase our international profile. On the one hand, we have created a base with more than 8 million digital fans and followers worldwide. At the same time we have continued to strengthen and extend the outstanding connections to Bayer AG. The immediate result is this fantastic alliance with Bayer Mexico."
Carro, who took part in a press conference on Tuesday on the announcement of the partnership, added: "At this point, I would like to thank the management of Bayer Mexico for enabling us to take part in the celebrations with our teams as Bayer ambassadors. I'd also like to thank the management of Deportivo Toluca, Club América and the Mexican league. We are looking forward to an exciting and hopefully long-term partnership."
The Mexico Tour 22 is Leverkusen's first trip to North and Central America since the Florida Cup in 2017. In that January, Bayer 04 first drew 1-1 with the Argentinian club Estudiantes and then beat the Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro from Belo Horizonte 1-0. For the Bayer 04 Women's team this will be the first trip over the Atlantic Ocean. After the best Bundesliga season to date in 2020/21, which ended with the Leverkusen Women's team in fifth place, the women are looking to finish in the top six again this season and also reach the final of the DFB Cup for the first time in the club's history. Achim Feifel's team play Turbine Potsdam in the semi-final in Leverkusen on Easter Monday, 18 April.
Bayer 04 have a long and successful history of players from North, Central and South America. The Brazilian player Tita was the first to come over the pond in 1987 and a year later he won the UEFA Cup with Leverkusen. Since then over 40 players from the two continents have made their way under the Bayer Cross. That includes two Mexicans: Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (2015-17) and Andres Guardado (2014), who together made 89 appearances and scored 39 goals for the Black and Reds.
The Werkself tour will not only include a friendly fixture. A range of marketing and PR events in the Mexican capital have been planned as well as discussions with representatives of the Mexican league and individual clubs. There will also be a cultural programme as well as visits to community facilities. Carro: "Tours to football mad countries like Mexico strengthen intercultural exchange and also help to promote the Bundesliga abroad. We are very proud that our Women's team will be a crucial part of this partnership."
Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes knows "to very much value the opportunity for our young team. This tour, including the match in Toluca, will be a special experience for our players – and not just on the pitch. The experiences will also help them to develop as a team and as individuals."
Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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One ticket, two matches – and a varied programme of events, including appearances by players from the professional teams: Bayer 04 has come up with something very special for the 2026 season launch on Saturday, 8 August. From morning right through to the evening, Werkself fans can use just one ticket to not only enjoy top-class football from the Bayer 04 teams live, but also to experience unforgettable moments with the whole family through a variety of hands-on activities around the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The day will also end on a real high note: after both matches, Bayer 04 supporters will have the opportunity to interact directly with the players during joint activities and get to know them from a different angle.
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