Bayern players called up for their national teams in March

The final international break before the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico kicks off is almost upon us: several FC Bayern players will be in action with their national teams – and some will even face each other in head-to-head encounters. Find out here who'll be away on international duty with their respective national teams.

Germany secured their place at the World Cup finals with a resounding 6-0 win over Slovakia in December. National coach Julian Nagelsmann’s side are now looking to build on that momentum and get off to a successful start in their first two friendlies of the new year. First up on Friday 27 March is an away match against Switzerland in Basel (20:45 CET). Three days later, they host Ghana in Stuttgart (30 March, 20:45 CEST). Bayern’s Jonathan Tah, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka are once again in the squad, while Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl have been handed their first call-ups. Aleksandar Pavlović has had to pull out with a hip issue.

Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise will be on international duty with Les Bleus in the USA. On Thursday 26 March, France – who finished top of their World Cup qualifying group – face Brazil in Boston (Foxborough). Kick-off is at 21:00 CET. Three days later, the French take on a Colombian side featuring Bayern striker Luis Díaz, in Landover, Maryland on Sunday 29 March, 21:00 CEST.

Harry Kane and the England national team also qualified for this summer's tournament as group winners. The Three Lions face Uruguay in the first of two friendlies on Friday 27 March at 20:45 CET at Wembley Stadium in London. At the same venue, Thomas Tuchel’s side then host Japan, featuring FCB defender Hiroki Ito, on Tuesday 31 March at 20:45 CEST.

Austria are making a return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. On the final matchday of the qualifiers, they snatched a late point against Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1), thereby securing top spot in the group and a place in this summer’s tournament. During the upcoming international break, coach Ralf Rangnick’s side face Ghana on Friday, 27 March. The match in Vienna kicks off at 18:00 CET. The Austrians then also take on Minjae Kim and the South Korean national team on Tuesday, 31 March, at 20:45 CEST. The squad for the two friendlies also includes Munich-based defensive specialist Konrad Laimer.

Josip Stanišić will be in action with the Croatian national team during the upcoming international break. Coach Zlatko Dalić’s side kick off their preparations for the World Cup finals with a friendly against Luis Díaz’s Colombia in Orlando (Florida) on Friday 27 March at 00:30 CET. Stanišić and his teammates then take on Brazil at Camping World Stadium on Wednesday 1 April at 02:00 CEST. The Croatians are looking to continue their impressive run from the qualifiers, which they wrapped up as undefeated group winners, in the new year.

This summer will see Senegal's fourth appearance at a World Cup finals tournament. Nicolas Jackson and his teammates finished top of their group in the qualifying round. The Senegalese are now preparing with two friendlies ahead of the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Thir first game is on Saturday 28 March at 17:00 CET against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris. Three days later, on Tuesday 31 March, Senegal host Gambia in Diamniadio. The match kicks off at 21:00 CEST.

Luis Díaz and Colombia secured their place in this summer’s finals with a third-place finish in the South American qualifiers. During the upcoming international break, the Colombian squad have two friendlies against European sides scheduled in the USA: First up is a match against Josip Stanišić and Croatia on Friday 27 March at 00:30 CET in Orlando (Florida). Díaz then takes on two more Bayern teammates in Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano in a clash with France on Sunday 29 March. The match kicks off at 21:00 CEST in Landover, Maryland.

The South Korean national team, featuring Minjae Kim, kick off the run-up to the 2026 World Cup with a friendly. The FCB defender takes on Austria featuring his Bayern teammate Konrad Laimer in Vienna on Tuesday, 31 March at 20:45 CEST.

Hiroki Ito is set to make his comeback for the Japanese national team. The FCB defender hasn't played for the Samurai Blue for around a year due to injury – back then, in March 2025, Japan became the first team to qualify for this year's tournament. Ito has now been named in the squad for Japan’s upcoming friendlies. First up are Scotland on 28 March (18:00 CET), followed three days later by England in London on 31 March (20:45 CEST).

Tom Bischof will join up with the Germany U21s for the upcoming international break. Head coach Antonio Di Salvo’s squad have two crucial matches in the race to qualify for the 2027 European Championship finals in Albania and Serbia. Currently second in the group on 12 points, Bischof and his teammates host third-placed Northern Ireland (7 points) in Braunschweig on Friday 27 March at 18:00 CET. They then have a top-of-the-table clash against current leaders Greece (15 points) at 18:00 CEST on Tuesday 31 March in Athens.

After the international break, Bayern have, among other things, a Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid: