The German Bundesliga got its 2026-27 season started over the weekend, with several Americans making headlines. There are more than a handful of Americans playing in the Bundesliga this season, including proven USMNT players and those yet to make their debut with the full national team. It was some of the younger Americans making the biggest impact during the opening weekend of action in Germany. Let's take a closer look at those players who saw the field during match day 1 in the Bundesliga.
Cole Campbell, Elversberg
What a day for the 20-year-old Campbell, playing for newly promoted Elversberg in the first Bundesliga game of the season. The USMNT hopeful scored in the 9th minute, giving Elversberg an early 2-0 lead against Bayer Leverkusen. Campbell ended up playing 65 minutes and picking up a yellow card in the 41st minute, while Elversberg held on for a 3-2 win. This is already Campbell’s third season in the Bundesliga, but it’s the first time he has a chance to play significant minutes and earn a call-up with the full national team. He’s previously scored six goals in 13 matches for US youth national teams.
20-year-old Cole Campbell SCORES for @SV07Elversberg in their season opener and helps earn them the first win of their historic first-ever Bundesliga campaign 👏#USYNT 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/aYPuhiHyTk
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) August 29, 2026
Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen
Unfortunately for Tillman, he was on the losing side of Campbell’s triumph. One of the USMNT’s breakout stars during the World Cup started for Leverkusen and played 65 minutes. He did a little bit of everything in the midfield, including winning five of six duels. But he left the game before Leverkusen scored its two goals.
Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Scally came off the bench in the 75th-minute after starting right-back Daiki Hashioka left because of an injury. The injury looked like it could be significant, potentially making Scally the clear option at right back for Mönchengladbach. Of course, he was previously the talk of transfer speculation, so his immediate future is uncertain ahead of the transfer deadline this week.
Santiago Castañeda, Paderborn
The often-overlooked Castañeda played all 90 minutes in the Paderborn midfield. The 21-year-old picked up a yellow card but was overall one of the better players on the field in Paderborn’s scoreless draw with Mainz. Castañeda has been a key part of Paderborn the past two seasons in the German second division. But now he’ll get a chance to prove himself in the Bundesliga, perhaps putting himself on the USMNT radar.
Brilliant game today from Santiago Castañeda for Paderborn in the Bundesliga in their 0-0 draw vs Mainz away! As a defensive midfielder, he performed at a great level to salvage a point for the newly promoted side. 💪
— Colombian Fútbol Report 🇨🇴 (@ColFootyReport) August 30, 2026
He is eligible to play for Colombia and the USA. 🇨🇴🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/sBEfAEpGf5
Noahkai Banks, Augsburg
Still technically a potential USMNT player, Banks had an all-around excellent game for Augsburg on Sunday. He was arguably the team’s best defender in a 3-0 win over Schalke. Much was made of Jurgen Klopp, now the German National Team manager, being at the game, with Banks being among the players he was there to watch. Klopp's presence potentially complicates the decision Banks will eventually have to make between the U.S. and Germany.
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