Historic meeting between the USA and China

Panda gifts and pin souvenirs – when the fans' passion transcends borders, it results in what we’ve just witnessed once again at FC Bayern: For the first time, the German record champions invited two fan clubs to take part in a joint meet-up, and 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 in Munich to spend a few days immersed in the world of FC Bayern. 

13,000 Kilometres and 21 hours apart

During the gathering, Markus Meindl pointed out that nearly 13,000 kilometres and more than 21 hours of travel time separate Dallas and Chengdu: “And yet they still met up 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 worked out perfectly.” 

The Chengdu fan club regularly organises big-screen 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 meet-ups 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 decked out with Bayern scarves and decorations in classic club style, creating a red-and-white setting in which the group, initially spread out across two rooms, quickly mixed together. Following a welcome speech from Markus Meindl and a brief overview of the event programme, a sense of openness and warmth soon developed in the room. 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 half-way around 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 get together to watch matches, we’ve become like family, and now we’ve added to our family thanks to your organisation in bringing us together last night! FC Bayern has an impact that stretches 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 organised gathering. 

Symbols of a new bond 

The following day, the group watched the thrilling 3-3 draw against Heidenheim at the Allianz Arena. Both fan clubs gathered for photos before and after the match, including at the Franz Beckenbauer statue, while the Chengdu fan club proudly displayed their 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 bond that had formed between the two groups. 

Yaoyao, Chair of the Chengdu fan club, also said: “We are incredibly grateful to FC Bayern for giving us this opportunity to bring fans from different parts of the world together. As the proverb goes, 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 meet-up that showed how football can connect people across cultures.” 

Over the course of one weekend in Munich, two fan clubs from far-flung corners of the globe came together as one – and their interactions extended far beyond the official programme. ‘Mia san mia’ in action: one passion, one family, all over the world.