After Brazil and Argentina, the two biggest football nations in South America, Uruguay and Ecuador sealed their slots at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on the penultimate matchday. La Tri were in Paraguay. Piero Hincapie and Co. went behind to an early goal (10’) and an own goal from the Leverkusen player in added time in the first half ensured a 2-0 deficit at half-time. The third goal was conceded just after the restart with Ecuador scoring a consolation goal towards the end of the game.
As Peru failed to gain any points on this matchday, Hincapie and Co. are certain of a place in the top four. Congratulations, Piero.
The final qualifier is a home game against Argentina with Werkself player Exequiel Palacios in the squad. While La Albiceleste are already certain of finishing second, Ecuador can finish third or fourth. The kick-off on 30 March is at 01.30 CEST.
Chile including Werkself player Charles Aránguiz suffered a setback in the race for qualification for the World Cup: La Roja lost 4-0 to group leaders Brazil and slipped down to seventh place as a result. The Werkself midfielder was in the starting line-up and was substituted with Chile 3-0 down.
With just one game to play, the chances of Aránguiz and Co. qualifying for the play-off position of fifth are rather low: They are currently two points behind. Chile face already qualified Uruguay on the final matchday. The kick-off in the game overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday is at 01.30 CEST.
Amine Adli and the France U21 team secured a 2-0 victory in a friendly against the Faroe Islands. And it was the Leverkusen player who set up Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga to score the opening goal in the middle of the first half (23'). The 21-year-old had to go off injured on 64 minutes. Get well soon, Amine.
Burkina Faso with Werkself player Edmond Tapsoba also played in a friendly against Kosovo. The 23-year-old defender led his team out as captain and he played the full 90 minutes – although he did miss a penalty on 65 minutes with his team 3-0 down. The second friendly in the current international break is against Belgium on Tuesday 29 March the game kicks off at 20.45 CEST.
Iran had already qualified for the World Cup finals ahead of the current international break with Sardar Azmoun and Co. playing in the big match in the Asia Group A. However, the visitors lost 2-0 in South Korea and dropped down to second place. With the Werkself winter signing in the starting line-up, Iran conceded the first goal just before half-time – the former Leverkusen player Heung-min Son netted the opener for South Korea. The game was settled just after the hour mark. Azmoun went off on 88 minutes. Iran play fourth-placed Lebanon in the tenth and final group match in the World Cup qualifiers. The kick-off on Tuesday 29 March is at 13.30 CEST.
Werkself youngster Iker Bravo made a successful start to the U17 European Championship qualifiers with Spain. The 17-year-old striker, who signed for Leverkusen from Barcelona last summer, was in the starting eleven in the 4-1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was substituted on 78 minutes.
In the other match in Group 4, the Belgium youngsters secured a convincing 8-1 victory over Estonia. Bravo and Co. play Belgium in the top match on Saturday 26 March and three days later is the final game against Estonia. The matches kick off at 15.00 with the games being played in the east of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Jonathan Tah (Germany):
Saturday 26 March: Germany vs Israel (Friendly)
Tuesday 29 March: Netherlands vs Germany (Friendly)
Moussa Diaby (France):
Friday 25 March: France vs Ivory Coast (Friendly)
Tuesday 29 March: France vs South Africa (Friendly)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Saturday 26 March: Finland vs Israel (Friendly)
Tuesday 29 March: Finland vs Slovakia (Friendly)
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Saturday 26 March: Argentina vs Venezuela (World Cup qualifier)
Wednesday 30 March: Ecuador vs Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile):
Wednesday 30 March: Chile vs Uruguay (World Cup qualifier)
Piero Hincapie (Ecuador):
Wednesday 30 March: Ecuador vs Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast):
Friday 25 March: France vs Ivory Coast (Friendly)
Tuesday 29 March: England vs Ivory Coast (Friendly)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
Tuesday 29 March: Belgium vs Burkina Faso (Friendly)
Sardar Azmoun (Iran):
Tuesday 29 March: Iran vs Lebanon (World Cup qualifier)
Amine Adli (France U21):
Monday 28 March: France U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 (Friendly)
Mitchel Bakker (Netherlands U21):
Friday 25 March: Bulgaria U21 vs Netherlands U21 (Euros qualifier)
Tuesday 29 March: Netherlands U21 vs Switzerland U21 (Euros qualifier)
Iker Bravo (Spain U17):
Saturday 26 March: Spain U17 vs Belgium U17 (Euros qualifier)
Tuesday 29 March: Estonia U17 vs Spain U17 (Euros qualifier)
In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.
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The Werkself are finally back. On Saturday 8 August, Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign with their opening match. But there’s far more than just a double-header in store for Werkself supporters. True to the motto ‘One day. Two teams. One club’, the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium will be transformed into a world of excitement.
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The Werkself continue their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with their third friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Werkself-TV is broadcasting the match live and in full in a stream from 14:50 CEST...
After the children from the Bayer 04 Football Academy grilled Janis Blaswich and Simeon Rapsch last week, another group of 20 young Werkself fans gathered at the BayArena press conference room on Tuesday afternoon, 28 July . This time, the kids directed their questions at Tim Oermann and Jonah Berghoff. Defender Oermann raved about his school days, whilst talented midfielder Berghoff revealed to the young footballers, amongst other things, who his favourite player is – and he is also at Bayer 04. To round things off, the pair naturally obliged with all requests for autographs and selfies.
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Bayer 04 are back on the pitch. Following the first training sessions, the Werkself play the first pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 18. The match against Oberliga club Sportfreunde Baumberg kicks off at 15:30 CEST in Monheim am Rhein. Fans unable to attend the match can watch head coach Carles Martínez’s first game in charge for free via a livestream at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app, as well as on Werkself.tv (exclusively for members). Just log on and watch the games live. All the other Werkself preseason friendlies leading up to the 2026/27 season will also be streamed live for free.
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