Bayern Munich travelled to South Korea and Hong Kong during pre-season, while Dortmund toured Japan. These trips are about preparation, but they also show how large the Bundesliga audience has become outside Europe.

The challenge is returning home physically ready for competitive matches.

Why it matters: Germany’s top flight starts later this year because of the World Cup, so squads have had less time together than in a normal summer. Teams that have integrated returning internationals quickly may carry an important early advantage when the serious fixtures arrive.

The broader picture: the Bundesliga is not only a Bayern-versus-Dortmund story. Clubs such as Leverkusen, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Union each have their own targets, and the opening weeks reveal which projects have real stability behind them.

What happens next: this is a strong base for follow-up coverage. The next article should focus on the key player battle, the manager’s decision, the travelling support or the impact on the early table — each angle gives readers something genuinely new.