After the FC Bayern World Squad was invited to a factory tour at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt last week, the team received a special visit at training on Tuesday: Michael Diederich, executive vice chairman of FC Bayern, welcomed Christian Schüller, director of sports marketing at Audi, who had come to Säbener Straße with 14 football-loving children. The kids were able to watch the World Squad Class of '24 train and then take part in a short session themselves under the guidance of head coach Roy Makaay and assistant Diego Contento.
Michael Diederich, executive vice chairman of FC Bayern, at World Squad training.
"Together with our partner Audi, FC Bayern wants to combine the topics of youth and internationality in the World Squad and thus promote global understanding for each other," said Diederich during the visit. "The project has developed magnificently over the years and we hope to expand it further together with Audi." In addition to passing drills and shooting, the programme included a final match in which the young fans cheered the players on loudly. Afterwards, the children were able to really let off steam under the instruction of the World Squad coach duo. They had a lot of fun playing 5-a-side with the World Squad boys and in the penalty shoot-out against the goalkeepers of the Class of '24. A dinner together at Säbener Straße rounded off the excursion – the young football fans will remember this special day for a long time to come.
World Squad head coach Roy Makaay leads the training session with the football-loving children.
"We're very pleased that we had the opportunity to accompany a World Squad training session at Säbener Straße with this group of football-loving children," added Schüller from Audi. "It's very special for the little ones that even Roy Makaay and Diego Contento took time out for them."
As part of the international youth football project FC Bayern World Squad, the German record champions and its partner Audi are supporting U19 players from all over the world in realising their big dream of becoming professional footballers.
The big journey of the World Squad Class of '24 will come to an end this Saturday at 15:00 CEST with a match against FC Bayern's U19s at Sportpark Unterhaching. Admission is free. The match will also be streamed live free of charge.
Watch the latest series of the World Squad documentary:
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