Not being called up for the 2026 World Cup was undoubtedly a disappointment for Tom Bischof. The FC Bayern midfielder’s strong performances had raised his hopes of a place in the DFB squad. Nevertheless, national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s decision could even prove to be an advantage for the 21-year-old in the long term
When the DFB announced its squad for the World Cup, one name was missing that many observers had expected: Tom Bischof. The Bayern professional had drawn particular attention to himself in the final weeks of the season and recommended himself for higher tasks
It came as a surprise to many that the decision was nevertheless made against him, but national coach Julian Nagelsmann provided an understandable explanation. The time was not yet right for him to take part in the World Cup, but the player’s potential was rated very highly internally
For Bischof, this means one thing above all: the focus must be on the future. The disappointment of missing out on the World Cup should be over by now. Instead, the youngster now has an opportunity that many of his team-mates do not have
Time for regeneration and further development
Bischof has had an eventful season. It was his first season at FC Bayern – and a successful one at that. He won the Supercup, the German championship and the DFB Cup to take his tally to three titles
In sporting terms, the midfielder made 38 competitive appearances. Although he was often a substitute, he still managed to accumulate around 1700 minutes of action. His development in the final weeks of the season was particularly remarkable
With six direct goals to his name, Bischof made a strong impression, with his dangerous long-range shot in particular attracting attention on several occasions. He even scored twice in the win against Freiburg
After a season full of new impressions, the additional break could now become an important factor. While many national players are in constant action at the World Cup, Bischof can prepare himself specifically for the coming season
Another advantage: the 21-year-old can set individual priorities and work specifically on the areas in which he wants to develop further. Without the stress of a major tournament, there is significantly more time for regeneration and specific training
Great opportunity in summer preparation
The situation is likely to be particularly interesting with regard to FC Bayern’s preparations. According to current plans, the record champions will start the new season on July 20 – just one day after the World Cup final
Many Bayern professionals will still have been away with their national teams at that time or will be on special leave afterwards. Bischof, on the other hand, should be rested and fully fit for action
Vincent Kompany will use the first training sessions and test matches to get an idea of his squad. Players who are involved early and impress straight away can score important points
For Bischof, this opens up the opportunity to take on responsibility early on and recommend himself for a bigger role in the long term. While some of his rivals are only starting their preparations late, the midfielder could already be collecting valuable match minutes and gaining a head start
Missing out on the World Cup is therefore a setback, but by no means a disadvantage for his development. On the contrary: the coming weeks could prove to be a decisive phase for Bischof. If he makes consistent use of the preparation, his role at FC Bayern could change significantly in the new season and the next step in his career could come sooner than expected.