Bayern Munich boss can see global reach building up

MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League trophy is seen prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on May 06, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Image

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Bayern Munich’s global reach continues to grow, and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen believes the club has entered a new level of international relevance.

Speaking about the impact of Bayern Munich’s Champions League campaign, Dreesen highlighted the enormous worldwide attention generated by the club’s matches against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

“The second leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid was reportedly watched by almost a billion people worldwide. The first leg against Paris broke all

streaming records. Thanks to the matches against Real and Paris, we’ve gained over five million new followers on social media. When Bayern is discussed so intensively even in the US and in major international media, it shows that global interest in Bayern has reached a new level. That’s important for our fans, but of course also for our partners and sponsors,” Dreesen told FCBayern.com.

The numbers underline the extraordinary global appeal of Bayern Munich.

A Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid reaching almost one billion viewers worldwide, combined with record-breaking streaming numbers for the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, shows the scale of the audience watching Bayern Munich on the biggest stage.

The club also gained more than five million new social media followers as a result of those matches. That kind of growth demonstrates that Bayern Munich is reaching new audiences far beyond Germany and Europe.

For Dreesen, the increased attention is important not only from a sporting perspective. Greater international interest creates new opportunities for Bayern Munich to connect with fans around the world while also increasing the value of the club to its partners and sponsors.

The message is clear: Bayern Munich is no longer simply one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Its global audience continues to expand, and the club’s biggest nights on the Champions League stage are helping take its worldwide profile to another level.