The new season has only just started, but the first international break is already upon us, with several Bayern players set to be in action for their country in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA. Here’s an overview of who’s been called up and who they’ll be playing.
Germany: Tah, Kimmich, Goretzka, Gnabry
After competing in the UEFA Nations League finals last June, Germany now kick off their qualifying campaign for the World Cup against Slovakia in Bratislava on 4 September (8.45pm CEST). Three days later Julian Nagelsmann and his four Bayern players of Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry and Jonathan Tah host Northern Ireland in Cologne (8.45pm).
France: Olise, Upamecano
Didier Deschamps has called up Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano as France also start World Cup qualifying. They first take on Ukraine in Wroclaw, Poland on 5 September before hosting Iceland on 9 September (both 8.45pm).
England: Kane
England have already played three games in World Cup qualifying and boast a perfect record in Group K with three wins, six goals scored and none conceded. Thomas Tuchel has called up his captain Harry Kane for the next two matches against Andorra at Villa Park in Birmingham on 6 September (6pm) and then in Belgrade against Serbia on 9 September (8.45pm).
Croatia: Stanišić
Josip Stanišić is in Croatia’s squad for their games in the Faroe Islands on 5 September and then at home to Montenegro on 8 September (both 8.45pm). Zlatko Dalić’s side got their Group L campaign off to a flying start in June with 7-0 and 5-1 wins over Gibraltar and the Czech Republic respectively. They trail the Czechs (nine points) in the early table having played two games less.
Austria: Laimer
Austria kicked off their qualifying campaign with wins over Romania and San Marino in June and currently trail Bosnia and Herzegovina (three wins from three) in Group H. Ralf Rangnick has called up Konrad Laimer for the next two games at home to Cyprus on 6 September (8.45pm) and then in Bosnia on 9 September (8.45pm).
Colombia: Díaz
Luis Díaz is on the verge of going to the World Cup next summer. Colombia currently sit sixth – the last automatic berth – in South American qualifying with 22 points and two games left to play. The new Bayern forward hosts Bolivia in Barranquilla at 8.30pm local time on 4 September before finishing in Venezuela at 7.30pm local time on 9 September as Los Cafeteros look to get over the line. Lucho has certainly done his bit in their campaign, leading the South American scoring chart with seven goals.
South Korea: Kim
Things are more relaxed for Minjae Kim as his South Korea have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. They’ll be making an early trip to North America to face two of the hosts in friendly matches, first taking on the USA in Colombus, Ohio on 6 September (5pm local time) and then Mexico in Nashville, Tennessee on 9 September (8pm local time).
Youth internationals: Klanac, Kusi-Asare
Jonah Kusi-Asare will be with Sweden’s U21s as they take on Armenia (6pm on 5 September) and then visit Montenegro (8pm on 9 September) in Euro qualifying.
Goalkeeper Leon Klanac has been named in Germany’s U19s squad for their friendly matches against Italy (6 September) and Croatia (9 September) in Koprivnica, Croatia.
Bayern will start their Champions League campaign in September:
Topics of this article