Sardar Azmoun was the first Black and Red player to start matchday two in the World Cup group stage. The Iran striker started up front against Wales. The Iranians, who lost 6-2 against England on matchday one, had the better chances in this game. Werkself player Azmoun was involved in nearly every attacking move and he appeared to have provided an assist for the opening goal – however the Iran goalscorer was offside when Azmoun played the pass. The Leverkusen player hit the post at the start of the second half (51'). Azmoun, who had been out of action for six weeks before the World Cup, was substituted on 68 minutes.
Iran pressed hard and they had an extra man after 86 minutes. However, it took until the ninth minute of added time before the deadlock was broken with a long-range effort. Iran doubled their lead in a counter-attack for the final score of 2-0 two minutes later. Azmoun and Co. go into the final matchday second in Group D. The game against the USA is on Tuesday 29 November (kick-off: 20.00 CET).
Argentina, with the Werkself player Exequiel Palacios in the line-up, clocked up their first three points on matchday two. Following the surprise 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in the opening match, the Albiceleste beat Mexico 2-0. Lionel Messi opened the scoring just after the hour mark with Enzo Fernandez settling the victory with a late goal. Palacios came off the bench on 69 minutes to make his World Cup debut.
Argentina, currently second with three points, play group leaders Poland (four points) on matchday three in Group C. The game kicks off at 20.00 CET on Wednesday 30 November.
Matchday two brought a head-to-head in Group A with Jeremie Frimpong’s Netherlands playing Ecuador with Piero Hincapie. The Oranje player Cody Gakpo opened the scoring on six minutes with Enna Valencia netting the leveller at 1-1 just after the restart (49'). Hincapie played the full 90 minutes for Ecuador with Frimpong remaining on the bench.
Both the Netherlands and Ecuador go into the final group match on four points with Senegal just behind on three points. Hosts Qatar, up against the Netherlands at 16.00 CET on 29 November, are pointless to date. Ecuador play Senegal at the same time.
Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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Special events for a special match: Bayer 04 are offering fans a varied programme of events at tonight’s home game in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga against German champions Bayern Munich (kick-off: 18:00 CEST). Alongside a number of interactive activities, events to mark the DFB Sustainability matchday are also planned around the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Read on in the matchday news ahead of the clash with FC Bayern.
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Once again, two Fritz Walter Gold Medals are heading to Leverkusen: Bayer 04 new signing Kennet Eichhorn and Francis Onyeka, a product of the Werkself youth set-up, currently on loan at SV Elversberg, were honoured for their performances during the 2025/26 season. The DFB announced the awards on Monday, 14 September. The Fritz Walter Medal is the most prestigious individual award in German youth football.
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Following two close encounters against VfL Wolfsburg and away to TSG Hoffenheim, the Bayer 04 Women face another top side on Monday night. The Werkself host German double winners Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 18:00 CEST to round off matchday 4 in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is counting on another spirited performance from his team.
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