May 29 – FC Bayern has announced the fourth edition of its FCB World Squad, an U19 team comprised of players from all over the world, with Audi as a new partner.
The FCB World Squad initiative is part player development and part entertainment product creations.
With a new-look coaching team consisting of former Bayern players Roy Makaay and Diego Contento, the project will be accompanied by a live documentary team for the first time.
The squad, comprised of 24 players from a pool of over 9,000 applicants, will play in the USA against Inter Miami and D.C. United, take part in The Soccer Tournament (TST) in North Carolina before making a stop in New York.
The player development aim of the project is to give talented international hopefuls a tangible chance at turning football into a professional career.
Four World Squad players have made the breakthrough into the professional game so far: Daniel Francis was signed by Bayern and is currently on loan at Wacker Innsbruch; Viktor Orakpo is under contract at OGC Nice; Viktor Baier at Viktoria Plzeň and Siam Yapp at Buriram United in Thailand.
Michael Diederich, executive vice chairman of FC Bayern, said: “The FC Bayern World Squad has established itself as a great platform for young talents and a springboard for players from underdeveloped regions. Alongside the sporting aspect, the cultural exchange is also important to us. Here we want to convey the FC Bayern values of diversity, tolerance and open-mindedness, and carry them into the world.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734851699labto1734851699ofdlr1734851699owedi1734851699sni@g1734851699niwe.1734851699yrrah1734851699