The 18-year-old as again in the Germany squad. During the last international break, Wirtz became the youngest Germany full international in the history the Werkself. Coach Hansi Flick is once again shown his confidence in him. Germany play Romania at the Volkspark Stadium in Hamburg on Friday, 8 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST), and three days later, the captain Manuel Neuer and Co. are away in North Macedonia (11 October, kick-off: 20.45 CEST).
Charles Aránguiz (Chile), Piero Hincapie (Ecuador), Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Alario (both Argentina) face long-distance flights to South America. All four Bayer 04 players are involved in three World Cup qualifiers. Palacios and Alario, with Argentina, first play Paraguay (8 October, kick-off: 02.00 CEST). The Albiceleste then play Uruguay on 11 October (kick-off: 01.30 CEST).
Jeremie Frimpong and Mitchel Bakker are again with the Holland U21 team during the forthcoming international break. The Werkself defenders are away with the Oranje against Switzerland (8 October, kick-off: 19.00 CEST) matters followed by a home match against Wales (12 October, kick-off: 20.00 CEST). Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky with Finland is up against Ukraine (9 October, kick-off: 19.00 CEST) and Kazakhstan (12 October, kick-off: 16.00 CEST).
Florian Wirtz (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Germany vs Romania, Hamburg
11.10.21, 20.45 CEST, North Macedonia vs Germany, Skopje
Charles Aránguiz (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 03.00 CEST, Peru vs Chile, Lima
11.10.21, 02.00 CEST, Chile vs Paraguay, Santiago
15.10.21, 02.00 CEST, Chile vs Venezuela, Santiago
Odilon Kossounou (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 15.00 CEST, Malawi vs Ivory Coast, Johannesburg
11.10.21, 18.00 CEST, Ivory Coast vs Malawi, Cotonou
Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Alario (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 02.00 CEST, Paraguay vs Argentina, Asuncíon
11.10.21, 01.30 CEST, Argentina vs Uruguay, Buenos Aires
15.10.21, 01.30 CEST, Argentina vs Peru, Buenos Aires
Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong (U21 Euros qualifiers)
8.10.21, 19.00 CEST, Switzerland vs Netherlands, Lausanne
12.10.21, 20.00 CEST, Netherlands vs Wales, Nijmegen
Amine Adli (U21 Euros qualifiers)
8.10.21, 18.30 CEST, France vs Ukraine, Brest
12.10.21, 18.30 CEST, Serbia vs Francs, Belgrade
Lukas Hradecky (World Cup qualifiers)
9.10.21, 18.00 CEST, Finland vs Ukraine, Helsinki
12.10.21, 16.00 CEST, Kazakhstan vs Finland, Astana
Patrik Schick (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Czech Republic vs Wales, Prague
11.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Belarus vs Czech Republic, Kazan
Andrey Lunev (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Russia vs Slovakia, Kazan
11.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Slovenia vs Russia, Maribor
Moussa Diaby (Nations League)
7.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Belgium vs France, Turin (Semi-final)
10.10.21, 20.45 CEST, France/Belgium vs Italy/Spain, Turin (Final or third-place match)
Piero Hincapie (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 02.30 CEST, Ecuador vs Bolivia, Guayaquil
10.10.21, 22.30 CEST, Venezuela vs Ecuador, Caracas
14.10.21, 23.00 CEST, Colombia vs Ecuador, Barranquilla
Zidan Sertdemir (U17 Euro qualifiers)
6.10.21, Montenegro vs Denmark, Paola
9.10.21, Malta vs Denmark, Paola
12.10.21, Denmark vs Turkey, Paola
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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The next footballing highlight is just around the corner: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament, will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico and feature 48 teams for the first time. Bayer04.de has all the latest on the Werkself players called up to represent their countries.
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While the majority of the Bayer 04 Women are enjoying their summer break, nine Werkself players will be on duty for their national teams in the coming days. Three of them are competing for a place at the World Cup, while six are involved in two friendlies with the Germany U23 team.
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