
This year again promises very special highlights for all participants at the Simply Football (Einfach Fußball) benefit tournament for four special schools at the Ostermann Arena (formerly Smidt Arena) in Leverkusen. You can look forward to lots of play and fun as there will be a bouncy castle as well as an autograph session with our Bayer 04 pros. And our Bayer 04 mascot Brian the Lion will also be there to ensure a good mood. There is also a goal wall and big tombola where you can win great Bayer 04 prizes.
Simply football is a joint project between Bayer AG and Bayer 04 Leverkusen that is designed to help children and teenagers with mental, physical or learning difficulties have access to club football. Up to now over 20 agreements have been made between clubs in special schools.
Profits from the tournament will go to the Friends of Hugo Kükelhaus School and Friends of the Martin Buber School.
Participants include FK Austria Vienna, Werder Bremen and Simply Football teams with children and teenagers with mental disability. And, for the first time, our Lions Club will field their own team to play at this years benefit tournament special schools. Entrance is free. So come on down on 5 March between 10.00 and 16.00 CET to support the teams.


New signing Miguel Gutiérrez arrives in Leverkusen having won the Champions League, the Spanish league title and an Olympic gold medal. However, the 25-year-old Spaniard, signed from Napoli, is looking to the future – he wants to write the next chapter of success with the Werkself. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the skilful, attack-minded left-back, who will wear the number 3 jersey.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day three (Tuesday 4 August) begins with a thorough open session on the pitch. After lunch, some players have media engagements at the team hotel, and then the team come together for a barbecue in the evening.
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Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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The Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog, you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme for day two (Monday, 3 August) centres on two training sessions – one in the morning (open to the public) and one in the early evening (behind closed doors) – at the nearby training grounds. In the afternoon, fans can look forward to a big fan meet-up with club legend Paulo Sergio at Schloss Blankenhain.
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