
The stadium opens two hours before kick-off at 11.00 CET. At the same time, the Christmas market on the piazza in the West Stand at the BayArena will be open to anyone with a ticket for the friendly against FC Zürich. Tickets for the match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium include a free non-alcoholic drink. Further information on ticket sales can be found HERE.
Running order:
11.15 CET - Opening matches
12.15 CET - Warm-up routine for pro teams
12.30 CET - Premium Lounge opens with games for children and families
12.45 CET - Management message to fans
13.00 CET - Friendly against FC Zürich kicks off
13.45 CET - Tribute to 26 fan clubs during half-time
14.45 CET - Full-time in friendly against FC Zürich
Bayer 04 fans can enjoy a varied programme after the friendly against FC Zürich as well. There are free stadium tours for ticket holders from 16.00 CET starting at the VIP entrance in the West Stand at the BayArena. The tour includes being pitch side on the way to the Mixed Zone and the dressing room area at the BayArena. One special highlight: Bayer 04 fans can also board the Werkself team bus during the tours.
Also at 16.00 CET, there is a 90-minute autograph session in conference rooms two and three in the West Stand at the BayArena. Beginning at the same time is an exclusive press conference for members of the Bayer 04 Club with head coach Xabi Alonso and Werkself stalwart Karim Bellarabi in the press conference room at the BayArena. At 16.45 CET there will be a 90-minute exclusive press conference for members of the Löwenclub and Teens Club also in the press conference room.
The action packed day is rounded off by carol singing on the piazza at the West Stand at the BayArena from 17.45 CET. The event ends at 18.30 CET.

Welcome back! On Tuesday morning, 11 August, Jarell Quansah and Exequiel Palacios – the last of the Werkself’s World Cup participants – returned to training. The two medallists and their team-mates are set to play their final two pre-season friendlies in England this week before the start of competitive fixtures.
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Bayer 04 have unveiled the new third kit for the 2026/27 season. The design, developed by kit supplier New Balance, combines the city’s colours with symbols that have defined Leverkusen and Bayer 04 for generations.
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Tickets for the first two Bayer 04 women’s team home games are now on general sale. A week after their league opener away at RB Leipzig, Roberto Pätzold’s side will face last season’s runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, in the first home fixture on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 16:00 CEST). Fifteen days later, on Monday night, 14 September (kick-off: 18:00 CEST), the Leverkusen Women host German champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for a top-of-the-table league clash. You can now also select specific seats via the online shop. The latest information on match ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Montrell Culbreath for the start of the 2026/27 season. The forward injured his foot injury in yesterday’s preseason friendly against Spanish top-flight side Sevilla (2–1), which rules him out of action for the time being. Culbreath’s diagnosis is not yet complete; further examinations are to follow in the coming days.
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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.
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