BORUSSIA Dortmund is considering bringing its men’s first team – and potentially its women’s side – to Brisbane, identifying Wynnum Wolves as its main Australian base.
Dortmund managing director Carsten Cramer visited Carmichael Park last week, saying the partnership through to 2030 was intended to deliver player pathways, coach education and a deeper local presence.
“We want to intensify the relationship,” Mr Cramer said.
“We are considering maybe to come with a professional team and with a women’s team to Australia, and for sure, to Brisbane as well.
“We want to invite more kids to Dortmund when they have the skills to make maybe the next steps [and] want to send more coaches to the Wolves.”
The Bundesliga club is discussing an Australian tour in 2027, with Suncorp Stadium identified as a potential venue for a pre-season friendly.
“A friendly, of course, in pre-season, it is possible,” Mr Cramer said.
“We checked Suncorp Stadium, which is a great stadium, and to play there a game would be a great opportunity.”
Whether the opposition would be a local or international team had not been decided, he said.
He said Brisbane was well placed to host Dortmund because of the Wolves partnership and BVB’s other east coast connections.
“With the partnership with the Wolves, and some activities in Sydney and the German International School as well, we think that the east coast is better prepared for a game,” Mr Cramer said.
“When we make the next steps, why not benefit from the first step we have made?
“That’s the reason Brisbane probably has the best spot.”
The Wolves are already integrated into Dortmund’s academy program, with Mr Cramer describing the Wynnum club as BVB’s “main base in Australia”.
With about 1900 players and 100 games hosted each week, he said the club provided a strong platform to develop young players and coaches.
Success would not be judged simply by finding a future Dortmund player, Mr Cramer said, but through meaningful opportunities for local youngsters, coaches and families.
“To attract as many kids as Dortmund fans is another KPI,” he said.
“To invite the most talented ones to Dortmund and maybe get a better feeling of how talented they are is another one.
“To bring coaches to Wynnum to educate young kids is another one.”
Mr Cramer said Dortmund was not approaching Australia solely as a commercial opportunity.
“We are not rushing into countries,” he said.
“I learned some expression – ‘dash for cash’ – and that’s not our way. We are not a football company; we are a football club.
“We want to build a relationship with the people and get some understanding of the football culture.”
Women’s football will also be part of that exchange, with Mr Cramer saying Dortmund could learn from the established popularity of the Matildas and the women’s game in general in Australia.
“Maybe that is the two-way relationship – that we can learn from women’s football in Australia as well,” he said.
Dortmund has an ambitious women’s team currently playing in Germany’s third tier and hopes to reach the top flight.
Germany will host the 2029 European women’s championship, with Dortmund set to stage the opening match.
Mr Cramer said BVB also recognised the community challenges faced by the Wolves, including flooding at Carmichael Park.
“Corporate responsibility is a topic, and we always say we are more than just a football club,” he said.
“Performance is important. Trophies and titles are important.
“But we are more, and we try to take responsibility through social activities, community activities and grassroots activities.
“That is one of the reasons we also help the Wolves get along with a difficult situation.
