I'm going to be completely honest with you right now, it really shook me up. We're talking about a global giant, Bayern Munich, where there is a coach with that kind of history. Vincent Kompany called me and we had a conversation. He was super polite to me, said he always really liked my football, and this was at 11pm (on deadline day), a little after 11pm. Whether I wanted to or not, it really affected me because of the greatness of the club, the greatness of the coach and the way he approached me, the way he talked to me.
PSG are once again in one of those transitional phases that are as inevitable as they are decisive in women's football. The loss of key players this summer was particularly painful. Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Korbin Shrader joined long-time rivals Lyon, while Laurina Fazer moved on to San Diego. Grace Geyoro was another player who left for England, but Paris responded with remarkable determination.
Led by a core of five Bayern players, Germany claimed a comprehensive 6-0 win over Group A rivals Slovakia in their final game of World Cup qualifying to secure their place in next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA. "The World Cup is the greatest thing there is. We're not used to it being so tight in Germany, so I'm really happy," said Joshua Kimmich, who captained the team in Leipzig on Monday.
The Canada international spent around 30 minutes out on the pitch, taking part in some of the drills. Although not every teammate was there to welcome him back, given they were away for international duty, the 25-year-old was still clearly very happy about this big step forward in his recovery. "I can hardly wait to be out on the pitch with my teammates again, help them win games and fight for our goals," Davies had said last month.
'It's the same with (Erling) Haaland or any player. You have to be winning those major trophies. With the way the season is going with Bayern Munich, it looks like we're in great shape. It looks like we're one of the favourites for the Champions League. It's the same with England. I think we're going to go into the tournament as one of the favourites.'
After losing Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman, Vincent Kompany made the right decision to keep Gnabry, and the decision has been vindicated. The 30-year-old versatile attacker has rediscovered his form this season and has delivered some eye-catching performances. Gnabry scored four goals and provided three assists in seven starts in the Bundesliga this season, and that is probably why the likes of Liverpool and Juventus are showing interest.
Congatulations to Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise! FC Bayern's two French internationals booked their ticket for the World Cup finals on Thursday night thanks to France's 4-0 win over Ukraine. The draw for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico will take place on 5 December. England and Harry Kane, who ended Serbia's hopes with a 2-0 win at Wembley on Thursday, will also be in the draw. Here's our round-up of the international action.
The event kicked off with a welcome event for players and families. After being welcomed at the FC Bayern Campus, guests were given a tour of the grounds and the Allianz Arena, which for many was their first direct contact with the stadium and the atmosphere of the club. During their time in Munich, the players are staying at FC Bayern's International Youth House, where they are coming together in a new environment not far from Säbener Straße.
"To be honest, I don't know. Maybe this one - it's from the Euros," she says, stroking her skin. "It says HOME, and the H is made up of two Roman I's, II - like the number two. It stands for my second Euros title." A symbol of home, of the connection between origin and success. "It reminds me of where I come from and what's possible if you never stop believing."
Since his breakthrough at Schalke 04, Leon Goretzka has always been an attacking-minded midfielder. His original position to begin his career was a number 10, playing behind the strikers. After developing physically, many coaches started to utilise his already proven offensive prowess and high motor as a box-to-box midfielder. This role has made Leon Goretzka a household name in Bayern's triumphant, treble-winning 2019/20 season. Goretzka was the beneficiary of a high-intensity pressing system that focused on wing play to create chances.
In the summer transfer window, Liverpool and Bayern Munich were linked with a move for the exciting young attacker. Back in July, it was suggested that Bayern were interested in signing the winger, who is valued at around £51.5m (€60m). Fabrizio Romano claimed that Bayern had made contact to sign the attacker, and stated that he could become a 'strong' option for the Bavarian giants if they fail to sign Luis Díaz. However, the interest probably died down after Bayern signed Diaz from Liverpool.
The 28-year-old Colombian was the architect of the home team's demise. He opened the scoring for Bayern in the 4th minute of play and doubled the advantage just past the half-hour mark. However, in the added time of the first half, alarm bells went off in the Bayern camp when Diaz, who had initially been shown a yellow card for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, was eventually given his marching orders after VAR intervention, which upgraded the card to red.
The Bundesliga opener will be played on Friday, 28 August 2026. The league programme will be interrupted by two international breaks (21 September to 6 October and 9 to 17 November) before the German top flight heads into the winter break after Matchday 14 (18-20 December 2026). For the first time, FIFA's adjustment of the break periods will apply:
Ottmar Hitzfeld was a defining character in the recent history of FC Bayern Munich. His induction into the German Football Hall of Fame recognises his extraordinary coaching career. Hitzfeld led FC Bayern to numerous titles, including five Bundesliga championships, three DFB Cup victories and, above all, the Champions League triumph in 2001. His calm, level-headed manner and strategic vision made him one of the most successful and popular coaches to have worked at Säbener Straße.
