Internationals: Crucial win for Finland - Hincapie books World Cup ticket

+++ 11/06: Xhaka and Switzerland in another goal fest +++

The second and final friendly of their international trip to the USA was also a successful one for Switzerland. The Nati followed up their 4-2 victory against Mexico with a 4-0 win over USA in the early hours of Wednesday morning German time. All the goals came inside just 23 minutes in the first half. Werkself star Granit Xhaka led the team out as captain as usual and played until the 66th minute.

+++ 11/06: Hincapie and Co seal World Cup berth +++

Piero Hincapie and Ecuador may have only managed a goalless draw against second-from-bottom Peru, but that point is enough to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup with two matchdays left. In fact, Hincapie and Co are currently in second place in the South America table, ahead of Brazil on the same points.

+++ 11/06: Palacios sets up equaliser +++

Argentina, who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup with an unassailable lead at the top of the South America standings, picked up a point in their home meeting against Colombia despite playing with 10 men for the final 20 minutes. After the visitors had taken the lead midway through the second half, it was Werkself man Exequiel Palacios who laid on the equaliser for Lionel Messi in the 81st minute, just three minutes after coming on. The Albiceleste's final two opponents in World Cup qualifying in early September are Venezuela and Piero Hincapie's Ecuador.

+++ 10/06: Finland temporarily top of qualifying group +++

In the battle for the top positions in Group D of World Cup qualifying, Finland with goalkeeper and captain Hradecky claimed an important 2-1 win at home to Poland. The Eagle-owls sit in first place for now with seven points from four matches, although rivals Netherlands and Poland have games in hand and can move ahead. Hradecky and Co face Poland again in September.

+++ 09/06: First defeat for Schick and Kovar in World Cup qualifiers +++

Czechia drop points in Group L for the first time after three wins on the bounce at the start of the World Cup qualifiers. With goalkeeper Matej Kovar and striker Patrik Schick in the starting XI, the match against Croatia ended in a 5-1 defeat. Kovar played the full game, Schick came off on 77 minutes.

+++ 09/06: Sarco scores again for Argentina U20s +++

Werkself player Alejo Sarco found the back of the net again in the second friendly for the Argentina U20 team against Australia. The 19-year-old, who joined Bayer 04 in the winter, followed up his opener in the first game (final score 2-1) with the second goal in a 2-0 win - a successful international break indeed.

+++ 08/06: Holders Spain beaten on penalties +++

The final in the UEFA Nations League in Munich on Sunday night brought four goals after 90 minutes but no winners. As no goals were scored in extra time, the title was decided on penalties. All the players on both sides were successful until Spain's Alvaro Morata missed to give Portugal the trophy. Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo did not feature in the game. The champions of Europe play Bulgaria and Turkey in World Cup qualifiers at the start of September.

+++ 08/06: Germany lose third-place play-off +++

With Florian Wirtz in the starting XI, Germany created several promising goalscoring opportunities in the first half of the play-off for third place against France in the UEFA Nations League but failed to convert and they were punished for the missed chances when Kylian Mbappe gave France the lead just before half-time in Stuttgart. A goal for Germany shortly after the restart was ruled out by VAR and Michael Olise doubled the lead for France in the closing stages for the final score of 2-0. Germany's next matches are at the start of September with World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Northern Ireland.

+++ 07/06: Finland lose to Oranje +++

Several former and new Werkself players met in the World Cup qualifying Helsinki on Saturday night. Lukas Hradecky was in goal for Finland and the former Leverkusen player Joel Pohjanpalo was up front. The new Bayer 04 keeper Mark Flekken started for Netherlands as did Jeremie Frimpong, who is set to join Liverpool in the summer. Netherlands picked up the first three points in Group G with a 2-0 win. Finland next play group leaders Poland with the Netherlands up against Malta.

+++ 07/06: Captain Xhaka leads Switzerland to win against Mexico +++

Switzerland beat Mexico in Salt Lake City to secure a win in the first of two friendlies in this international break. Werkself player Granit Xhaka was the captain in a 4-2 win against Mexico. The Leverkusen player came off at half-time with the score at 1-0. The second and final game against the USA is in Nashville and Switzerland are then next in action in World Cup qualifiers in September.

+++ 06/06: Schick and Kovar unbeaten in eight internationals +++

Group leaders Czechia extended their lead in their third World Cup qualifier with a 2-0 win against Montenegro. The two Leverkusen players Patrik Schick and Matej Kovar were in the starting line-up with Schick scoring to make it 2-0. Former Bayer 04 player Adam Hlozek netted the opener. Czechia are top of their group on nine points and are unbeaten in the last eight international fixtures. The fourth qualifier against Croatia is on Monday night. 

+++ 06/06: Sarco for Argentina U20s +++

The Argentina U20 team played in a friendly. The Albiceleste youth side beat Australia 2-1 with Alejo Sarco starting the game and he scored a goal. There is a second friendly against Australia on Monday night. 

+++ 06/06: Boniface starts for Nigeria in draw +++

Victor Boniface was in the Nigeria starting XI against Russia on Friday night. The Super Eagles went a goal down but levelled at 1-1 on 71 minutes. Boniface played for 61 minutes.

+++ 06/06: The next win for Palacios' Albiceleste +++

Werkself player Exequiel Palacios, who was in the starting line-up and played the full game, with Argentina beat Chile 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier. The only goal of the game was scored by Julian Alvarez (Atlético Madrid) on 15 minutes. For the unchallenged leaders of the South American group it was the fourth win in a row. Argentina are next in action at home to sixth-placed Colombia in the second and final match in the current international break.

+++ 06/06: Hincapie and Co. spoil Ancelotti debut +++

Ecuador with key defender Piero Hincapie continue their unbeaten run: The goalless draw in the home game against Brazil under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti was the eighth successive World Cup qualifier without defeat for the South American side. Hincapie and Co. are second in the table behind Argentina.

+++ 05/06: Spain follow Portugal into Nations League final +++

The second finalist in the UEFA Nations League is confirmed: A day after Germany's defeat in the last four against Portugal, European champions Spain beat France in an action-packed game. Spain were already 4-0 up after 55 minutes in Stuttgart. France made it exciting in the closing stages but the goal in added time to make it 5-4 came too late.

That means Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo, who did not feature in the semi-final, and his fellow countrymen are in the final against Portugal on Sunday, 8 June with the kick-off in Munich at 21:00 CEST.

+++ 04/06: Wirtz scores in semi-final exit for Germany +++

Germany suffered a defeat after eight games without losing. In the semi-final of the UEFA Nations League in Munich, the team led by coach Julian Nagelsmann took the lead but lost 2-1 to Portugal. After a goalless first half, Werkself player Florian Wirtz, who played the full 90 minutes, opened the scoring on 48 minutes. Portugal equalised a quarter of an hour later and turned the game round five minutes after that. Robert Andrich did not feature.

The opponents in the third-place play-off on Sunday 8 June (kick-off: 15:00 CET in Stuttgart) are Spain or France. The second semi-final is tomorrow Thursday, 5 June with the kick off in Stuttgart at 21:00 CEST.

+++ 02/06: Tapsoba plays 90 minutes in Burkina Faso friendly +++

The Burkina Faso national team is using the current international break for two friendlies against African teams. In the first match, Werkself player Edmond Tapsoba and Co. faced Tunisia on Monday night in Radès close to Tunis. Tapsoba gave the hosts the lead after the hour mark when an attempt to clear unfortunate ended up in the back of his own net. Tunisia scored the final goal of the game to make it 2-0 just before full-time. Burkina Faso play Zimbabwe in the second friendly on Friday.

+++ 31/05: Nigeria win tournament with a draw +++

After the opening match against Ghana (2-1) in the Unity Cup 2025 in London, Nigeria with Werkself player Nathan Tella played Jamaica on Saturday night. The Super Eagles, with Tella in the starting XI and on the pitch up to 65 minutes, twice gave away the lead – the final score on 90 minutes was 2-2. Nigeria won the penalty shootout allowing Tella and Co. to lift the trophy against the backdrop of the London sky.

+++ 28/05, 23:01 CEST: Tella also a winner +++

Nathan Tella and Nigeria were involved in the first match of the Unity Cup 2025 in London. The Super Eagles beat Ghana 2-1 with Tella not making an appearance. The second and final game in the four-sided competition is on Saturday 31 May. The opponents are Jamaica who beat Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 in their first match.

+++ 28/05, 21:05 CEST: Garcia wins against Costa Rica +++

Aleix Garcia was the first Werkself player to start the international fixtures on Wednesday night. The Leverkusen player played for Catalonia in a friendly against Costa Rica that ended in a 2-0 victory for the Catalans. Garcia was in the starting XI .

Fixtures and results: