geissblog.koeln Aug 01

Opinion“Are you ready for this season?” Fans celebrate El Mala and FC:

1. FC Köln celebrated their grand season opening on the stadium's forecourt on Saturday ...

geissblog.koeln/2026/08/seid-ihr-fuer-diese-saison-bereit-fans-feiern-el-mala-und-den-fc/

“Are you ready for this season?” Fans celebrate El Mala and FC

Photo: geissblog.koeln · view article

1. FC Köln opens season before around 40,000 fans

At the Müngersdorf event, Said El Mala and the club’s men’s and women’s teams drew particular attention.

Key FactsAug 1, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: geissblog.koeln

Around 40,000 fans attended the season opening on the stadium forecourts in Müngersdorf.

The men’s and women’s first teams signed autographs at eight stations for more than two and a half hours and posed for photos.

Said El Mala received especially loud cheers while his brother Malek played for the under-21 side against SC Wiedenbrück, which won 2–1.

After the training camp and season opening, the professionals have a day off before training is scheduled to resume on Monday at 3 p.m., for the first time this summer on Pitch 1 at Geißbockheim.

"Sometimes you need patience, sometimes you have to endure as well, but that's the Cologne way we're used to. I can promise we will do everything we can to move the FC forward."— Thomas Kessler spoke at the 1. FC Köln season-opening event; he promised patience and determination to push the club forward.

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1. FC Köln

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German football club based in Cologne, in North Rhine-Westphalia

Season

#season-67383dacd812a

weather- or climate-based subdivision of the year

Fan (person)

#fan-person

person who is enthusiastically devoted to something or someone

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Aug 01

40,000 Cologne fans celebrated Said El Mala (19) at the season opener.

geissblog.koeln Aug 01

Opinion“Are you ready for this season?” Fans celebrate El Mala and FC: 1. FC Köln celebrated their grand season opening on the stadium's forecourt on Saturday ...

geissblog.koeln/2026/08/seid-ihr-fuer-diese-saison-bereit-fans-feiern-el-mala-und-den-fc/

fc.de Jul 30

Season opening with autograph session, Cologne music, and many activities

fc.de/aktuelles/news/saisoneroeffnung-mit-autogrammstunde-koelscher-musik-und-vielen-aktionen