FC Bayern Global Academy: International team kicks off season

On 1 September 2025, an exciting chapter began in Munich for the players of the new FC Bayern Global Academy season. The 17 youngsters come from ten different countries and bring with them a variety of footballing backgrounds and cultural experiences.

The event kicked off with a welcome event for players and families. After being welcomed at the FC Bayern Campus, guests were given a tour of the grounds and the Allianz Arena, which for many was their first direct contact with the stadium and the atmosphere of the club. During their time in Munich, the players are staying at FC Bayern's International Youth House, where they are coming together in a new environment not far from Säbener Straße.

As was the case last year, the Global Academy will be headed by Klaus Augenthaler. The 1990 World Cup winner will be supported this season by Diego Contento, who won the treble with FC Bayern in 2013 and brings additional perspectives to the daily work with the young players thanks to his experience in professional football.

First games and development

After weeks of intensive training, the team kicked off the new season with four matches, starting with a 2-2 draw against Ismaning's U19s. A week later, Global Academy lost 3-1 to Schwaben Augsburg, before recording a 4-0 win against Bad Aibling and a 3-3 draw against Heimstetten. The matches showed that the players are quickly adapting to each other and learning from every game. Barthazar Ndayishimiye from Rwanda stood out in the first few weeks, scoring three goals and contributing one assist in the first three games. With his commitment and positive attitude, he has quickly become an important part of the team.

Team spirit on and off the pitch

Away from their own training and matches, the team had several opportunities to experience Bayern's professional team live. They attended the home matches against Hamburg and Werder Bremen, which the German record champions won 5-0 and 4-0 respectively. Particularly memorable was the Champions League match against Chelsea, where four players from the Global Academy served as ball boys and were able to experience the atmosphere right from the sidelines.

In addition to training, team spirit plays an important role in everyday life. For example, in addition to a bowling evening, a scavenger hunt through Munich was also on the agenda. Once a week, the team also gets together for dinner, which brings together different nationalities and cuisines and provides a great opportunity to get to know each other better outside the pitch.

The first few weeks in Munich have shown that the players at FC Bayern Global Academy have started the season with motivation and a willingness to learn. In the coming months, there will be more matches and training sessions in which the team hope to continue their development and grow closer together as a group.