First-choice defender Lilla Turanyi is in the Hungary squad for the first round of the play-offs against Scotland in the qualifiers for the Euro finals next summer. The Hungary women's team are at home to Scotland first on Friday, 25 October with the return match in the UK four days later. The winners of the play-offs will compete in the next international break, from 27 November to 3 December, again over two legs in the second play-off round for the remaining places at the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland.
Striker Cornelia Kramer is hoping to make her debut for Denmark with the team coached by Andree Jeglertz playing two friendlies at home against South Africa and the Netherlands. 21-year-old Kramer has previously been called up twice to the national squad but is still waiting to make her international debut for Denmark. Teammate Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir faces a long journey with Iceland for two friendlies against the USA. The matches for the Iceland Women in the United States are due to be played overnight on 25 October in Austin and on 27 October in Nashville.
The two Leverkusen players Kristin Kögel and Katharina Piljic, who have played all the games for the Black and Reds in the 2024/24 season so far, are in the Germany U23 squad for the first games in October. The German Football Association (DFB) set up the U23 squad, coached by Kathrin Peter, this year to enable the women junior teams to play between the U20 World Cups. The U23 team will take part in a round of international fixtures. The 25-year-old Kögel and the 21-year-old Piljic from the Bayer 04 Women's team are two of five older players, born after 1 January 2002, who are over the age limit but who can still play. Defender Julia Mickenhagen is on standby. Also called up for the U23 team of her country is defender Emilie Bragstad. The 22-year-old is in the Norway U23 squad for a friendly against Portugal.
Delice Boboy and Estrella Merino Gonzalez are away with the Germany U19 squad for a DFB training course in Portugal. The U19 players have two friendlies against Norway and the Netherlands to be played on the Algarve.
List of call-ups:
Lilla Turanyi (Hungary)
25/10: Hungary vs Scotland (Euro qualifier, first round of play-offs)
29/10: Scotland vs Hungary (Euro qualifier, first round of play-offs)
Cornelia Kramer (Denmark)
25/10: Denmark vs South Africa (Friendly)
29/10: Denmark vs Netherlands (Friendly)
Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir (Iceland)
25/10: USA vs Iceland (Friendly)
27/10: USA vs Iceland (Friendly)
Kristin Kögel, Katharina Piljic (Germany U23)
24/10: Germany vs France (Friendly)
28/10: France vs Germany (Friendly)
Emilie Bragstad (Norway U23)
25/10: Portugal vs Norway (Friendly)
Delice Boboy, Estrella Merino Gonzalez (Germany U19)
25/10: Germany vs Norway (Friendly)
29/10: Germany vs Netherlands (Friendly)
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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