The FC Bayern World Squad is back for a second time. The global project, operated by the German record champions for the first time last year together with partner Volkswagen and generating a huge response, will start anew in 2022. Once again, under-19 talents from around the world will get the chance to move one step closer to fulfilling their dream of becoming professional footballers. Among other things, a training camp will be organised on an international stage, and the World Squad will also be invited to play against FC Bayern's U19s in the summer.
Board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic: “The FC Bayern World Squad project has developed successfully in just its first year. We’re very much looking forward to seeing talents from all over the world. In José Mulato from Colombia, whose development we’re following closely as part of our cooperation with FC Dallas, one of the players from last year has already been handed a professional contract, and many of the other talents are on the radar of their respective youth national teams since the World Squad. It’s an excellent springboard.“
FC Bayern board member responsible for marketing Andreas Jung: “We’re very happy with how phenomenally the FC Bayern World Squad project has developed. With this initiative, FC Bayern and Volkswagen want to promote talented youth players from around the world, give individuals a chance from regions that are sometimes structurally weak, and generally contribute to a cultural exchange. Talents from different nations with different cultural backgrounds, united through FC Bayern – this international flagship project is another example of the central values of our club: diversity, tolerance and cohesion.”
Talented players born in 2004 or 2005 who would like to become a member of the World Squad should send FC Bayern an application video no more than 90 seconds in length, in which they demonstrate their individual skills. The application form, conditions of participation and further information on the evaluation criteria can be found via the following link:
Successful first run in 2021
In 2021, a total of 654 players from 64 countries submitted over 1,200 videos to apply for a place in the squad. The only entry qualification this year is again the year of birth: 2004 or 2005. The scouting and selection process is managed by a professional coaching team including former Bayern captain and World Cup winner Klaus Augenthaler, together with FC Bayern international youth coach Christopher Loch. They also lead the training of the talents, with particular focus placed on team building and cultural exchange alongside the sporting aspects.
José Mulato, one of last year’s World Squad players, signed his first professional contract this season. As part of the talent development partnership between FC Bayern and FC Dallas, the Colombia U19 international has joined North Texas SC, Dallas’s feeder club, on loan for the rest of the year.
The complete journey of the youngsters, from training to the selection process to the match against the FC Bayern youth team in Munich, will again be documented in a multi-part series in late autumn this year, so that fans can watch as the dream of becoming a professional footballer takes shape.
Watch all episodes of the first series here:
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