From USA to South Africa to Italy | OneFootball

Romano Schmid will hope to secure a place at the World Cup with Austria (Photo: ÖFB/Kelemen).

11 Green-Whites have been called up for international duty

We’ve had just two Bundesliga matchdays in the 2025/26 season, and already the first international break is upon us. 11 Werder players have been named in their respective nations’ squads for fixtures across the next two weeks. Six Green-Whites will join up with their senior national teams, while the remaining five will take part at youth international level.

Marco Grüll has also been called up to represent Austria (Photo: ÖFB/Kelemen).

A familiar sight is on offer for SVW fans on Saturday, 6th September, as Werder teammates Romano Schmid and Marco Grüll will both be in the Austria squad for a World Cup qualifying match against Cyprus, set to kick-off at 20:45 CEST in Linz. Three days later the pair will head to Zenica, where Austria will be hosted by Bosnia-Herzegovina, again at 20:45 CEST. Austria have won both of their World Cup qualifiers played so far.

Another Green-White hoping to achieve qualification for next year’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is Felix Agu. The wing-back has been included in Nigeria’s squad, with their first game scheduled for 18:00 CEST on Saturday, 6th September, as they take on Rwanda at home in Uyo. On Tuesday, Agu and co. will travel to Bloemfontein as they face South Africa for another 18:00 CEST kick-off. The 25-year-old will be looking forward to his second time representing his nation at senior level, having made his debut for the side in May. However, Agu and the Super Eagles will be feeling the pressure as they head into the final stages of qualifying. With four matchdays left to play, Nigeria currently sit fourth in Group C – six points adrift of group leaders South Africa.

Three of Werder’s incomings this summer are also set to return to action on the global stage. Karl Hein, who has been Estonia’s first-choice keeper since making his debut in 2020, will likely start between the sticks in a World Cup qualifier against Italy in Bergamo, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 CEST on Friday, 5th August. At the same time, Switzerland will host Kosovo, with Isaac Schmidt included in the Swiss squad for this round of international fixtures. Another home game against Slovenia will follow three days later. SVW’s other new full-back Yukinari Sugawara will travel to the USA for a pair of international friendlies with Japan, with the first fixture set to be played against Mexico at 04:00 CEST on Sunday, 7th September. Three days later, head coach Hajime Moriyasu’s side will face USA at 01:30 CEST.

Five youngsters on tour

A Werder trio have been called up to represent Germany U19s in Wesley Adeh, Mick Schmetgens and Karim Coulibaly. The three youth DFB-Pokal winners will hope to feature for the side when Germany host Italy for an international friendly at 17:00 CEST on Saturday, 6th September, before taking on Croatia at the same time on Tuesday, 9th September, in another friendly. Missing from the Croatia U19s squad across the next two weeks will be Patrice Čović. The 18-year-old is set to remain in Bremen as a precautionary measure.

In addition, goalkeeper Mio Backhaus will be hoping to make his debut for the Germany U21 side. On Friday, 5th September, head coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team will travel to Albania for an international friendly at 18:00 CEST. The squad will then return to Germany, ready to face Latvia at home on Tuesday, 9th September, in a European U21 Championship qualifying game. Kick-off is at 20:30 CEST in Rostock.

The final Green-White set for youth international action this week is summer signing Samuel Mbangula. The winger has been included in the Belgium U21 squad, as the side prepare to face Belarus at 17:00 CEST on Thursday, 4th September, for an U21 EUROs qualifier in Gori, Georgia.