The Werkself will meet up again in Leverkusen in mid-July for the start of pre-season training. Further information, including exact timings, to follow. The Black and Reds will play their first friendly of the summer on Saturday, 18 July (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) at Oberliga club Sportfreunde Baumberg in neighbouring Monheim. Ticketing will be handled by SF Baumberg, and the proceeds will remain with the host club for general sports promotion.
Following the previously announced friendly at Kickers Offenbach (Saturday 25 July, 15:00 CEST), Bayer 04 visit regional league team FC Carl Zeiss Jena on Saturday 1 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST). The Werkself then travel on to the training camp in Blankenhain, Thuringia, where they will stay until Friday 7 August. An open session on site during the training camp will take place on Monday 3 August.
After returning to the Rhineland, the official season opener will take place at the BayArena on Saturday 8 August. The highlight will be the friendly against record Europa League winners Sevilla from Spain. Kick-off is at 15:30 CEST.
Bayer 04 will communicate information on ticket sales for all the Werkself summer friendlies in good time via the club media channels as usual.
Key dates at a glance*:
Mid-July: Start of training in Leverkusen (further information to follow)
Saturday 18 July: Friendly at Sportfreunde Baumberg in Monheim (kick-off: 15:30 CEST)
Saturday 25 July: Friendly at Kickers Offenbach (kick-off: 15:00 CEST)
Saturday 1 August: Friendly at FC Carl Zeiss Jena (kick-off: 18:00 CEST)
Saturday 1 August - Friday 7 August: Training camp in Blankenhain, Thuringia
Saturday 8 August: Season opener and friendly against Sevilla (kick-off: 15:30 CEST)
21-24 August: DFB Pokal First Round 2026/27
28-30 August: Matchday 1 Bundesliga 2026/27
*Subject to change
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