Bayern Munich arrived in Chicago on Monday (25th July) ahead of their Audi Football Summit pre-season matches against AC Milan, Internazionale and Real Madrid.

Arriving in their own team airplane Bayern Munich touched down in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport ahead of a demanding schedule of three matches in three American cities over 11 days.

The Bundesliga and German Cup Champions will face AC Milan in Chicago, Internazionale in Charlotte, North Carolina and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, New Jersey- Not easy by any means.

A whole host of senior players are missing from the tour, including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller due to the players exploits at Euro 2016.

Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa are absent through injury.

Bayern's chief executive Karl Heinz Rummenigge explained the reason for the US tour:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich Chief Executive

"The US is the most important and by far the biggest market in the world. And the Asia-Pacific market is quite strong as well. Big countries like China and Japan and so on. So we are travelling to these two continents, and we try to help US soccer here in the States because soccer is not number one sport like in Europe so we try to help them, to convince them and I believe that is a very good strategy. And regarding Asia, we don't have to talk about as well, because Asia is a very important market as well. In China football is growing, still in a very growing process. We have been there twice in the last three years and we know that we have many fans in Asia - especially in China. We are going there continuously to support football in these countries, and to bring the name of Bayern Munich there."

Over the last four seasons Bayern have alternated their pre-season season tours between Asia-Pacific and the the USA.

It's the first trip of a challenging season for new manager Carlo Ancelotti, who is succeeding Pep Guardiola, the man who guided Bayern to seven major trophies in three seasons.