Colney The winter break in the Bundesliga is very long due to the World Cup in Qatar. 1. FC Köln would like to use the time to travel to the United States.
long winter break In the Bundesliga due to the World Cup in Qatar (21 November to 18 December), 1. FC Köln wants to use it to travel to the USA. Several test games are planned at the site. “You have to encourage the players during such a long break. Training alone is not enough,” explains Thomas Kessler, head of the Licensed Players Department.
Due to the controversial Winter World Cup, the Bundesliga is interrupted mid-season after the 15th match day (11–13 November) and goes into the longest winter break in the league’s history. The 16th matchday only runs from 20 January to 22 January, when FC Werder Bremen host in Cologne.
Opponents are still being sought locally in the United States. Games have been planned against Mexican clubs and possibly other Bundesliga teams that want to travel to the states. Kessler says, “We are in talks, but nothing is ready for a decision yet.” However, the team from Cologne will not play against teams from the American professional league Major League Soccer (MLS). Their season ends in December and clubs no longer have access to their players.
The Tour of America is also to be organized in collaboration with the German Football League (DFL), which provides financial and organizational support on such trips to Bundesliga clubs in order to advertise the Bundesliga abroad. FC can also earn some income during long breaks from the game through Test matches.
