The Special Champions League is promoted by EFDN (European Football Development Network) and the European Union (EU) and thereby represents an international extension to the ‘Einfach Fußball’ activities at Bayer 04 that have been running for years.
Bayer 04 have worked alongside partners on the Einfach Fußball programme initiated by Bayer AG since 2010. This has given young people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to be regularly involved in their favourite hobby of football at over 20 locations throughout Germany. This also includes inclusive tournament formats: The ‘Einfach Fußball’ tournaments, held indoors and outdoors twice a year in Leverkusen, have been a great success with over 500 participants taking part - and now it moves on to the European stage.
The EU initiative will be staged in the form of five international tournaments with different hosts. The first tournament is in the Portuguese capital Lisbon on Wednesday 8 February. Leverkusen are joined by Werder Bremen as German representatives. Also involved are: Fundação Benfica and Special Olympics from Portugal, Fundación Alcoraz and Fundación Levante from Spain, NEC Nijmegen and Only Friends (Ajax) from the Netherlands, Foundation 92 and Everton in the Community from the UK, KAS Eupen from Belgium plus Juventus for Special from Italy.
Bayer 04 will welcome the other teams to Leverkusen on 7 June of this year.
EU Disclaimer:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
This year - for the third time - the parents of the Bayer 04 youth players from the U8 to U15 age groups once again took part in the WDR Christmas Miracle. Under the motto "Goals against hunger in the world - parents in goal!", they organised their own fundraising campaign to once again actively support the important WDR campaign. The sum of €3,420 was handed over at the Glashaus in Essen in the middle of the week during the live programme.
Show more
The Leverkusen eSports players picked up just one point on Tuesday 16 December in the remaining three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. As a result, the #B04eSports team once again miss out on going through to the offline knockout phase and now head into the winter break.
Show more
Today, Tuesday 16 December (live on B04eSports Twitch channel from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports players face the final three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. In addition to 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and SV 07 Elversberg, they will play Fortuna Düsseldorf, who are still unbeaten in this third showdown. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Whether it's the Lions Club, Teens, Bayer 04 Club or Silver Lions - there was a lot going on again this year in all age-specific members' clubs. We look back on an eventful year with numerous events and many exclusive moments with the Werkself. We take a look at what the year 2025 had to offer for the members of the Bayer 04 Club...
Show more
