That will be followed by a range of performance diagnostics tests. They will be held at the BayArena. The first training session will be held on Monday, 31 August, which also marks the start of the FIFA release period. There are no external friendlies planned at the moment and there will be no training camp.
The first competitive match is set for the second weekend in September with the first round of the DFB Cup being held from the 11th to the 14th. Lars Bender and Co. will face the cup winners of the Hamburg Football Association, which is to be determined on the amateurs finals day on 22 August.
The Bundesliga season – number 42 for the Werkself – kicks off on Friday, 18th September. The team under head coach Peter Bosz will be away to VfL Wolfsburg on that weekend.
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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