FC Bayern World Squad: Interview with Aryan Bose

For Aryan Bose, taking part in the FC Bayern World Squad this year marks another important step on his extraordinary journey. The attacking player comes from India but was born in Thailand and grew up there. It was through the FC Bayern Global Academy that he earned his place in the World Squad project. He is now part of the Class of ‘26 and is competing against talented players from all over the world at the highest level of youth football. In this interview, Aryan talks about the biggest differences between the Global Academy and the World Squad, the most memorable moments of his trip to South Korea, and what he is taking away from this experience for his personal and sporting development.

Aryan, please introduce yourself. What’s your name, and where are you from? 
“My name is Aryan Bose. I’m from India, but I was born in Thailand and grew up there.”

You were selected as a Global Academy player to take part in this year’s World Squad project and were scouted by Roy Makaay and Diego Contento. What does it mean to you personally to be a player who has been able to prove yourself on the pitch? 
“I’m very proud and feel very honoured that the coaches saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to become a World Squad player.”

Can you compare training with the Global Academy with that of the World Squad? Where do you see the biggest differences? 
“In my opinion, the biggest difference between the Global Academy and the World Squad is the intensity. With the World Squad, I train with top players from all over the world, including international players. This makes the training sessions very competitive and demanding. We also play a lot of matches in a short space of time against opponents of a very high standard.”

The 2026 World Squad season is drawing to a close. Is there a trip, a moment or a particular situation that stands out in your memory? 
“The trip to South Korea was the most memorable experience for me. Exploring the Hongdae neighbourhood in particular has really stuck in my mind. I thought it was really cool and interesting, especially as I’d never been to South Korea before and had never seen a neighbourhood like that.”

What lessons from this period do you feel have been most valuable for your personal development as a footballer and as a person?
“For me, it was an important experience to learn how to communicate despite language barriers and to make friends with people from all over the world. Dabo and I, for example, have become very good friends, even though we don’t even speak the same language.”

To what extent have you grown closer as a team, both on and off the pitch, during 2026 World Squad? 
“I think we did a great job on the pitch of playing as a team, communicating with one another and working together. We managed just as well in our free time. Despite all the hurdles, we’ve become very good friends and have been able to build a strong bond with one another.”

The team has played five friendly matches over the past three weeks. Can you give us a brief recap of those games? 
“The five friendlies against these top clubs were very challenging but also great fun for us. We put in plenty of good performances and had some strong moments, but of course there are always things we need to improve on. Personally, I could’ve created even more chances for the team and need to learn to communicate even more.

“In the last match against Hertha in Berlin, I think our team played very well. After falling behind, we managed to equalise and were even close to winning the match. That shows what our team is capable of and that we might even be able to beat top clubs in Germany.”

On Wednesday, you’ll be playing your final match against FC Bayern’s U19s. Looking back on the past few weeks you’ve spent together, how well prepared do you feel as a team? 
“I think our team is very well prepared for the match against the U19s. We’ve already made great progress since the first match, and I feel that we’re getting better and better.”

With this year’s World Squad season drawing to a close, what do you see as your next steps? And what is the next goal you’d like to pursue in your career? 
“I’m very happy and grateful to have been part of this year’s World Squad. I hope to continue developing and to be able to play at a professional level in the future.”

His time with the FC Bayern World Squad has not only challenged Aryan on a sporting level but has also given him valuable experiences far beyond the pitch – from intense matches against top-class opponents to friendships with players from all over the world. He looks back on the project with great gratitude and is now focusing on the next steps, with the clear aim of one day playing at a professional level. Before that, however, the final match against Bayern’s U19s is coming up, in which Aryan and the entire Class of ‘26 want to demonstrate their progress over the past few weeks on the pitch one last time.

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