In Group A, there is a clash between Leverkusen teammates: Piero Hincapie with Ecuador and Jeremie Frimpong with the Netherlands face each other on matchday 2 (25 November, 17.00 CET). Frimpong on his World Cup call-up: "I'm very happy about being called up. It's a dream for every player to be at a World Cup. Now it's come true for me." The other teams in the group are Qatar, who Hincapie and Co. face in the opening match on 20 November, and Senegal.
The Black and Reds are also represented in Group B: Iran with Bayer 04 striker Sardar Azmoun play England in their first game on 21 November. That is followed four days later by the group match against Wales and Iran finish the group stage with the clash with the USA on 29 November.
Another Werkself player is battling to progress to the knockout rounds with his fellow countrymen in Group C: Exequiel Palacios, along with the seven-time FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, is in the Argentina squad. The Leverkusen midfielder and the Albiceleste play Saudi Arabia (22 November), Mexico (26 November) and Poland (30 November).
Florian Wirtz is not at the World Cup. The 19-year-old midfielder has been out of action since the middle of March due to a torn cruciate and has recently returned to full training with the Werkself. Germany coach Hansi Flick spoke about Wirtz at the press conference presenting the Germany World Cup squad on Thursday: "There's no question we would have been glad to have a player with the quality of Florian Wirtz. But he's been out for a long time with a serious injury and is now just coming back into full training. The most important thing for him is to get back on the pitch fit and well and then give his all again in January."
Wirtz travelled to St. Louis with his Leverkusen teammates on Sunday 13 November for the #Bayer04USATour. The tour includes a friendly against St. Louis CITY Soccer Club on Wednesday 16 November.
World Cup group games involving Bayer 04 players:
Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands)
Senegal vs Netherlands (Monday, 21 November, 17.00 CET)
Netherlands vs Ecuador (Friday, 25 November, 17.00 CET)
Netherlands vs Qatar (Tuesday, 29 November, 16.00 CET)
Piero Hincapie (Ecuador):
Qatar vs Ecuador (Sunday, 20 November, 17.00 CET)
Netherlands vs Ecuador (Friday, 25 November, 17.00 CET)
Ecuador vs Senegal (Tuesday, 29 November, 16.00 CET)
Sardar Azmoun (Iran):
England vs Iran (Monday, 21 November, 14.00 CET)
Wales vs Iran (Friday, 25 November, 11.00 CET)
Iran vs USA (Tuesday, 29 November, 20.00 CET)
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (Tuesday, 22. November, 11.00 CET)
Argentina vs Mexico (Saturday, 26 November, 20.00 CET)
Poland vs Argentina (Wednesday, 30 November, 20.00 CET)
A number of countries who have not qualified for the World Cup finals in Qatar are involved in friendlies in November. That includes Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky with Finland who play North Macedonia on 17 November and Norway three days later.
Morocco's capital Marrakesh is the venue for two Leverkusen defenders playing each other: Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso meet the Ivory Coast on 19 November. Amine Adli is on the road with the France U21 squad and they play Norway in Caen on 19 November.
A special afternoon at the Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp: At the Liga 20 indoor football centre, in the shadow of the BayArena, two Werkself women’s team players led a training session. Loreen Bender and Selina Ostermeier not only offered the young players advice and support, but also got stuck in themselves.
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Bayer 04 came from 2-0 down to beat Nürnberg 5-2 in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal on Wednesday night. Edmond Tapsoba’s double either side of half-time sparked the turnaround, before Patrik Schick, Jonas Hofmann and Lucas Vázquez ensured progress to the last 16 for the 2024 cup winners.
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The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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