Historic meeting between the USA and China

Panda gifts and souvenir pins: when fan passion crosses borders, moments like this can happen at FC Bayern. For the first time, the German record champions invited two fan clubs to take part in a joint exchange, as the Dallas-Fort Worth Fan Club from Texas and the Chengdu Fan Club from China quickly became one red-and-white family. Around 50 participants came together to spend several days in Munich centered around FC Bayern. 

13,000 Kilometers and 21 Hours of Travel 

During the gathering, Markus Meindl pointed out that nearly 13,000 kilometers and more than 21 hours of travel separate Dallas and Chengdu: “And yet they still meet through FC Bayern here in Munich. For the first time as part of our traditional fan club visits, we brought together a fan club from China and one from the USA. As an international club with Bavarian roots, ‘Mia san mia’ also means, and especially means, bringing people together from all over the world through their passion for FC Bayern. It was a wonderful fit.” 

The Chengdu Fan Club regularly organizes public viewings and local football events to bring fans together for the biggest moments of the season. The Dallas-Fort Worth Fan Club, founded in 2020, is deeply rooted in its local community, with regular matchday gatherings and strong local engagement. 

No “China” or “USA” – Just FC Bayern 

The weekend began with a joint fan club dinner at the Paulaner restaurant “Herrschaftszeiten” in downtown Munich. The venue was prepared with Bayern scarves and decorations in classic club style, creating a red-and-white setting in which the group, initially split across two rooms, quickly mixed together. After a welcome from Markus Meindl and a brief introduction to the program, an open and warm atmosphere immediately developed. Around the tables, there was no “China” or “USA” – only FC Bayern. There was plenty of laughter, conversations about fan experiences, and connections formed across continents. 

Alli Wilde from the Dallas-Fort Worth Fan Club: “We are so grateful to get to travel across the globe and have the opportunity to meet new friends who share a passion for all things FC Bayern! Because of our FCBDFW Fan Club and leader, Matt, we do more than just gather together to watch matches, we have become like family, and now we have added to our family thanks to your organization bringing us together last night! FC Bayern has impacts that stretch around the world, from Dallas to China, building communities and generating a culture of inclusion and support all because we fell in love with the same team! Mia San Mia!” 

One especially emotional moment was the spontaneous exchange of gifts: the Chengdu Fan Club brought panda souvenirs with local significance, while the fans from Dallas-Fort Worth brought scarves, pins, and beer koozies. After the official part of the evening, the group continued on together to a karaoke bar, where both fan clubs once again mixed naturally. A sign of how real friendships can grow from an organized gathering. 

Symbols of a New Connection 

The following day, the groups attended the thrilling 3-3 draw against FC Heidenheim at the Allianz Arena together. Both fan clubs gathered for photos before and after the match, including at the Franz Beckenbauer statue, while the Chengdu Fan Club proudly displayed its flag inside the stadium. One particularly special moment came when a member of the Chengdu Fan Club wore a Dallas-Fort Worth Fan Club scarf during the match – a visible symbol of the connection that had formed between the two groups. 

Yaoyao, Chairwoman of the Chengdu Fan Club, also said: “We are incredibly grateful to FC Bayern Munich for giving us this opportunity to bring fans from different parts of the world together. As the German proverb says, mountains may not meet, but people do. Coming to Munich is not only about watching a match, but also about experiencing the fan culture and connecting with others. It was a wonderful exchange that showed how football can connect people across cultures.” 

Over the course of one weekend in Munich, two fan clubs from opposite sides of the world became one shared “we” – and the exchange extended far beyond the official program. A lived example of “Mia san mia”: one passion, one family, all around the world.