Bayer 04 is showing its true colours: As with World Prematurity Day (purple) and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (orange), the BayArena will again be lit up today. As part of the 15th Rare Disease Day, the Leverkusen home ground will be lit up from 18.30 CET in the colours pink, blue, green and purple changing every minute. The Werkself is thereby making a clear statement for a diverse society.
Background to the day of action: 300 million people worldwide live with chronic and rare diseases. Since 2008, the umbrella organisation of the Allianz Chronischer Seltener Erkrakungen e.V. (ACHSE) in Germany raises awareness of the campaign every year on the last day in February and calls for more research, therapies and treatments as well as a better, longer life for those affected. In addition, the campaign is also about social acceptance and participation. Many of the 8,000 diseases classified as "rare" are associated in part with severe physical and mental disability.
Back to sport: Following the fifth win in the seventh Bundesliga match for Bayer 04 in 2022, several Werkself players have received praise in the media. Kicker awarded top marks for the performances by Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby and Edmond Tapsoba And the trio were also named in the kicker team of the matchday. Wirtz and Diaby are also included in the side named by the BILD newspaper.
TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen can look back at a successful weekend: The athletes won gold, silver and bronze at the German Indoor Championships in Leipzig. Congratulations to the medal winners Torben Blech, Bianca Stichling, Christoph Garritsen, Mateusz Przybylko, Judith Franzen, Franziska Schuster, Amelie Dierke and Annkathrin Hoven.
Bayer 04 as the first club abroad: The Polish centre-forward Arkadiusz Milik decided to join Leverkusen at the age of 18 in January 2013. The 6 foot 1 forward played for the Black and Reds for six months before loan periods at FC Augsburg and Ajax a season later. He signed for the top Dutch club in the summer of 2015. After being at Napoli, Milik is now playing for Olympique Marseille in France – and he has scored 16 goals in 26 games. The former Werkself player today celebrates his 28th birthday. Many happy returns.
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
