FC Bayern World Squad: A look back at the season with Byeong-Chan Park

The match against the FC Bayern U19s marked the end of the sixth edition of the FC Bayern World Squad. The Class of ‘26 look back on four eventful weeks – including trips to Jeju and Seoul. Not only did the players gain valuable experience on the pitch during this time, they also immersed themselves in South Korean culture and bonded with their international teammates. Byeong-Chan Park was already familiar with the World Squad as he had been part of the Class of ‘25. The captain talks about the last few weeks in an interview.

Byeong-Chan Park interviewed

Byeong-Chan, the 2026 season is officially over for the World Squad. How would you sum up the weeks in South Korea and in Munich – both on and off the pitch?

“The team really tried to act as a unit and play together on the pitch. I think we had a very relaxed time together and got along well off the pitch.”

The World Squad spent two weeks in South Korea, your home country. How was it for you to see your familiar surroundings through the eyes of your international teammates? Has it changed your yiew of your home country?

“I made me feel very proud to see how my teammates enjoyed themselves when they came to Korea, tried Korean food and went sightseeing. It made me feel a great sense of pride in my home country.”

After South Korea, you continued your tour in Munich. How would you sum up that time for you and the team? What impressed you the most about Germany?

“It was a great experience to train at FC Bayern’s first-team training facility and contest the match against the U19s at the Campus. I was particularly impressed by meeting Serge Gnabry, who visited us during training and took his time for us.”

You’ve now completed two seasons with the World Squad. How would you compare the two years? What felt familiar and what was completely different in the second year?

“The coaches, the accomodation at the International Youth Centre and the Säbener Straße training grounds felt familiar. The away matches were different compared to the World Squad 2025, I remember them particularly well. We only played in Munich last year, but this time we travelled to Ausgburg and Berlin, which was a great experience.”

Have you noticed any changes in your mentality or your role compared to last year? In what ways have you grown?

“I tried to play with more responsibility and lead my teammates because I got to be the captain this year. I think I’ve particularly improved defensively compared to last year. And the number of times I won the ball was higher compared to last year.”

You lost to the FC Bayern U19s this year. How did you come to terms with the defeat and did you take away?

“The team gave it their all and turned in a really good display if you ask me, even though we lost the match against the U19s. I think the defeat has helped us grow even further because we experienced many different situations during the match – from taking the lead to the scores being level for a long time and our opponents’ late winner. We all learned a lot from it.”

How would you describe the character and team spirit of the Class of ‘26 as captain? What made this group special compared to other teams you’ve played for before?

“I felt our bond was even stronger this time. We really stuck together and played as a team. That the players helped and supported one another on the pitch was probably the most defining characteristic of our team during the four weeks.”

Now all players are on their way back to their home countries. What will you miss the most about this team and this season, and which experiences will you take with you for your career?

“I’ll definitely miss the joint training sessions and the games with my lads. It was a very special experience to play with friends from different countries, it isn’t something you get to do every day. The World Squad has also helped me identify my weaknesses and the significance of communication. I’ll have to work hard on these deficits back in Korea.”

The FC Bayern World Squad 2026 was an intense and varied experience for the Class of ’26: over the course of four weeks, the team contested six matches in two countries, gained new insights into other cultures and bonded as as international group both on and off the pitch. The players take away a number of insights: from sporting development and leadership responsibilities to the significance of communication within the team. Even though the season is over now, the players have many special memories that will accompany them throughout their careers.

You can follow the entire journey of the FC Bayern World Squad Class of ‘26 via our blog and on Instagram @fcbayernpathway.