Hong Kong a magnet for ‘world-class’ sport as Manchester City and Chelsea games confirmed

Hong Kong is set to welcome two “blockbuster matches” and underline its status as “a global destination for world-class sport” when four major European football clubs play at Kai Tak Stadium in August. Organisers confirmed on Tuesday that the second Hong Kong Football Festival will feature Manchester City and fellow English club Chelsea, as well as the illustrious Italian pair of Juventus and Inter Milan. As first reported by the South China Morning Post, Premier League title challengers City will clash with Inter on Saturday August 1, with Juventus tackling reigning Club World Cup champions Chelsea four days later. Speaking at the festival launch, Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, the city’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Hong Kong would be “proud to sustain the momentum” after the summer World Cup had positioned football in the global spotlight. “Kai Tak Stadium is a game-changer [for the city] and we are demonstrating Hong Kong’s ability to attract major international events,” Law said. “I’m delighted more and more teams now view Hong Kong as their favourite pre-season destination.” Pep Guardiola’s City increased their chances of coming to Hong Kong as English champions after they beat leaders Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday. Poised to play in the city for the first time since beating local club Kitchee 6-1 back in 2019, City will compete with Inter, the runaway Serie A leaders, for the Asahi Super Dry Trophy. On Wednesday August 5, Chelsea and Juventus, both two-times European champions, will contest the Herbalgy Trophy. “The return of the Hong Kong Football Festival is a strong vote of confidence in [the city] as a global destination for world-class sports and major international events,” said Andrew Kam Min-ho, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park. “Following the tremendous response last year, we’re delighted to stage two blockbuster matches [in a] stadium built to the highest international standards.” Granted “M” Mark funding from Hong Kong’s Major Sports Events Committee, the festival has frozen its two cheapest match ticket price categories of HK$399 (US$51) and HK$799. There are rises from the 2025 edition, which featured Arsenal, AC Milan, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, in the four higher cost brackets, with the most expensive tickets climbing from HK$2,499 to HK$2,999. Tickets to watch open training sessions at the HK$30 billion, 50,000-seat Kowloon venue will be priced HK$299, other than the 10,000 promoters TEG Sport are gifting to local community groups. Eric Fok Kai-shan, chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), said the overwhelming success of last year’s festival had led to expressions of interest this year from multiple promoters and clubs. “We always try to bring the best to Hong Kong, and I think [the city] has demonstrated itself as a regional sporting hub,” said Fok, who echoed the wish of Rachael Carroll, the managing director of TEG, for the festival to establish itself as an annual staple in the image of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. “We want local fans and tourists to know there is a focal point, and for this to become a regular in the calendar for Hong Kong fans, and supporters from around the world,” Fok said. He was also confident the public would not suffer from football fatigue, with a separately organised game between Bayern Munich and Aston Villa being staged at Kai Tak just two days after the festival. “I think there’s the appetite here [for the matches], and along with the government, organisers and other parties, we carefully select the teams depending on their attractiveness,” Fok said. “We believe Hong Kong has the market for this, they’re all top teams, and we’re excited and honoured to have them come.” Keen to avoid overshadowing the festival announcement, Fok opted not to comment on the recruitment process for the vacant Hong Kong head coach post, although it is thought a first round of interviews has been conducted. Last season’s Champions League finalists, Inter will be in Hong Kong for the first time since 1997, while Chelsea last visited in 2011, meeting Kitchee and Aston Villa ahead of a campaign that concluded with them as European champions. Juventus most recently came for a 2016 friendly with South China. The English and Italian domestic campaigns begin over the weekend of August 22 and 23. Edgar Davids, the former Juventus midfielder, said: “It’s good to have a match against a strong competitor at this stage of pre-season, because you learn if you are fit and tactically at your highest level.” The public ticket sale will begin on May 14. Fans who register with TEG Sport will have access to an exclusive 24-hour pre-sale window.

Hong Kong a magnet for ‘world-class’ sport as Manchester City and Chelsea games confirmed

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Festival returning in August after successful 2025 edition; City set for Inter Milan clash, with Chelsea tackling Juventus

Festival returning in August after successful 2025 edition; City set for Inter Milan clash, with Chelsea tackling Juventus