Borussia Dortmund return to action tonight for their first pre-season game of the summer against Rot-Weiss Oberhausen as the club begin their preparations for the 2026-27 campaign ahead.
The players, as well as head coach Niko Kovac, reported to work for the first time since the conclusion of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, 14 July after nearly two months of holiday.
While the World Cup stars were missing in action as they were given a few extra days off, some of them will be joining the squad for the Japan tour later this month.
Amidst the summer break, the club kept itself busy in the transfer market with the signing of Joane Gadou, Justin Lerma and Kaua Prates.
In his first interview since returning to work, Kovac talked of integrating these players into the squad.
"“The lads who were already here know exactly what we focus on, what we need to be successful as a team and as a club. We’ll integrate the new players quickly. In soccer, that actually happens relatively quickly and very easily. ""as quoted on Dortmund's official website
Borussia Dortmund had 10 players participating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the largest contingents by a European side at the tournament. However, they are yet to report back to work as the stars enjoy some time off to rest and recuperate.
Kovac stressed on how important it would be for the new players to know the World Cup stars but sounded confident that the group will come together once that happens. He added:
""We’ll have to wait a little while longer for the first World Cup players to return, so that the young players can get to know these stars who were at the World Cup—and then learn to love and appreciate them. But we’ll make it happen. We managed it last year in those three weeks. Now we’ll manage it in the six or three weeks once the national team players are back. As always, I’m very confident!”"said Kovac
The Black and Yellow recently released their squad list for the Japan tour later month, which featured some of the players from the World Cup. Germany's Maximilian Beier, Felix Nmecha and Waldemar Anton have been summoned, so are Sweden's Daniel Svensson and Austria's Carney Chukwuemeka.
Only Gregor Kobel, Marcel Sabitzer, Ramy Bensebaini and Julian Ryerson will remain absent while Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can (though he didn't play at the World Cup) continue their recovery from injuries.
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