World Cup Report Cards for Bayern Stars: Upamecano Stands Out, DFB Squad Disappoints | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup is over, and the tournament went very differently for the Bayern pros. While Dayot Upamecano and Harry Kane confirmed their strong form, numerous national team players fell short of expectations. As the team begins preseason training, Vincent Kompany is left with a mixed overall picture.

On Monday, FC Bayern officially kicked off its preseason preparations for the new season. At the same time, modernization work on Säbener Straße is in full swing. By fall, new training fields, a modernized rehabilitation area, and additional diagnostic facilities, among other things, are scheduled to be completed.

“We’re working flat out to further develop the infrastructure at Säbener Straße. The renovated fields, the modernized rehabilitation area, and the expansion of the professional wing will create additional training, diagnostic, and rehabilitation facilities—and thus even better conditions for our sporting success,” explained CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.

On the sporting front, the Munich club is setting its sights on its next bid for the Bundesliga title, the DFB Cup, and the Champions League. A look back at the World Cup, however, shows that by no means all Bayern players are returning to Munich on a high note.

Upamecano and Kane Impress on the Big Stage

Photo: IMAGO

Bayern’s standout player of the tournament was Dayot Upamecano. The French center back was among the strongest defensive players at the World Cup and seamlessly built on his consistently strong performances in the Bayern jersey.

France’s outgoing national team coach, Didier Deschamps, had clear words to describe him: “Dayot had a difficult start with the national team overall. Today, he is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the world. He has incredible athletic strength and can do it all.”

Harry Kane also delivered reliably once again. The English captain scored six goals in the tournament and was among the most prolific strikers at the World Cup, even though England once again fell short of the title.

Michael Olise set a new World Cup record with seven assists and particularly impressed as a creative playmaker in France’s offensive play. In addition, the two new Bayern signings, Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari, drew attention with strong performances and confirmed why the record champions secured their services early on.

DFB contingent falls short of expectations

Photo: Getty Images

The tournament was less successful for many German national team players. The early elimination against Paraguay was one of the biggest disappointments of the World Cup—and the Bayern pros’ assessment is correspondingly critical.

Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Jamal Musiala were rarely able to showcase their skills on the field. Despite missing a penalty kick against Paraguay, Jonathan Tah was still among the more consistent players on the German national team, while Manuel Neuer played a solid World Cup overall.

Min-jae Kim was also eliminated with South Korea in the group stage and fell short of expectations, as did Hiroki Ito with Japan. Nicolas Jackson, who is now back under contract with Chelsea FC following his loan to FC Bayern, was likewise unable to lead Senegal past the round of 32.

Konrad Laimer, Josip Stanisic, and Luis Díaz also had a rather mixed tournament. While they avoided major setbacks, they were unable to make a real impact either.

For Alphonso Davies, the World Cup was particularly unfortunate due to an injury. Canada’s captain made only a brief appearance. Leon Goretzka, who left FC Bayern this summer after his contract expired and is still looking for a new club, played only a minor role for Germany.

So, from Munich’s perspective, the overall assessment of the World Cup is mixed: While some key players impressively confirmed their market value and class, others will likely have some catching up to do in the coming weeks to re-establish themselves as key players in Vincent Kompany’s plans.