
While the Werkself early risers opted for a hot-air balloon trip over the pyramids of Teotihuacán, nine players made their way to the Soccer Clinic Miguel Hidalgo. Moussa Diaby, Odilon Kossounou, Sardar Azmoun and Co. played football and joked with disadvantage kids for over an hour with both sides enjoying it immensely. The event was rounded off perfectly with an autograph session.







Back at the hotel, the majority of the Werkself players watched the Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers. Under the Mexican midday sun – due to the time difference the final started at two o’clock in the afternoon in Mexico – Lukas Hradecky and Co. crossed their fingers for Eintracht on the roof terrace at the team hotel.
The Seoane team split into two groups for the final part of the day. The event was the Bayer Night. One half the players plus sporting director Simon Rolfes and head coach Gerardo Seoane met 200 employees of Bayer Crop Science first in the team hotel and then in the headquarters of Bayer Mexico.
Group 2 with the two managing directors Fernando Carro and Rudi Völler had a meet and greet with employees of Bayer Consumer Health. In a Bayer 04-branded hall in a hotel in the city, the Werkself players first held a photo and autograph session, clients of Bayer México Consumer Health and Pharmaceuticals bringing their Bayer 04 shirts with them to be signed by Exequiel Palacios, Piero Hincapie, Moussa Diaby and Co. That was followed by the Bayer Night in a relaxed atmosphere with a buffet, DJ and cocktail crash course. Odilon Kossounou and Edmond Tapsoba tested out the table football game and there was live music provided by a mariachi band.
The day begins from a Black and Red perspective early in the morning: Sporting managing director Rudi Völler and a small delegation including his successor Simon Rolfes will make a three-hour journey to Querétaro to visit an orphanage. The 62-year-old has been an ambassador for the Egidius Braun Foundation of the German Football Association (DFB) for several decades and they support the institution in Querétaro. Völler was there together with Reiner Calmund in 1999 and there have been many visits to the city north of Mexico City since then – most recently ten days ago.
The rest of the Black and Red delegation are set to visit a CSR Rehab Project where the players and coaches will help to clean up a football pitch. Sightseeing is on the agenda in the afternoon with a visit to the floating gardens of Xochimilo, with a boat trip planned at the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
Show more
Spurred on by a flawless hat-trick from Cornelia Kramer, the Bayer 04 women’s team won their penultimate pre-season friendly in commanding fashion. As part of the season launch, the Werkself beat Dutch top-flight side Feyenoord 7–0. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, Kramer (6’, 25’, 45’), Sofie Zdebel (47’), Maja Sternad (59'), Natasha Kowalski (83') and Vanessa Fudalla (86') scored the goals for coach Roberto Pätzold’s side.
Show more
The Shareholders’ Committee of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH has extended the contracts of the two managing directors, Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes, ahead of schedule. The CEO, Fernando Carro (62), will continue in his role until 30 June 2029, and managing director sport Simon Rolfes (44) will remain in post until 30 June 2031.
Show more
There’s plenty for Bayer 04 fans to enjoy both on and off the pitch at the official 2026 season launch. In addition to the women’s team taking on Feyenoord at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 13:15 CEST and the men’s team facing Sevilla at the BayArena at 15:30 CEST, fans of all ages can enjoy a range of activities – and get to meet Bayer 04 players and former players in the process. The Fanwelt is also offering a special promotion: buy a new shirt and get free printing! Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about the season launch, including the live streams.
Show more