Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Instagram/@brandhongkong

The recent Football Festival in Hong Kong turned out to be a huge success, with many fans from around the world filling the city with excitement. For the first time in eight years, several major European football teams returned to Hong Kong, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and AC Milan. Over the weekend, more than 160,000 people watched matches and training sessions at the new Kai Tak Stadium, which can hold 50,000 fans.

About 35% of the visitors came from overseas, showing that this football event helped attract tourists as well as local fans. Many people said they came not just for the matches, but also to enjoy Hong Kong’s sights and culture.

One famous former player, Sami Hyypia, who used to play for Liverpool, attended the event. He said the festival felt like a big celebration, similar to other major events in Hong Kong. “People dress in their favorite team shirts instead of costumes, but the feeling is still like a big party,” he said.

Players and managers from all four clubs were happy with their time in Hong Kong and said they would love to come back next year. The managing director of the event’s promoter said the support from fans, the quality of the new stadium, and help from the local government all made the event special.

Even though tickets cost as much as HK$2,499 (around US$318), many fans felt it was worth it. One Arsenal fan said, “It’s expensive, but it’s Arsenal. I had to go.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was very impressed with the full stadium and the high energy from the crowd. He compared it positively to his team’s games in Singapore, where there were fewer fans in the stands.

Last year, Hong Kong was disappointed when the famous player Lionel Messi didn’t play in a friendly match with Inter Miami. But this year, the new stadium and the well-organized event made up for that. Liverpool’s commercial officer said the modern venue had changed the game in terms of hosting football in the city.

The stadium also has air conditioning, which helped players train and play in the hot July weather without affecting their pre-season preparation. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk praised the stadium’s comfort and facilities.

Each of the two match days had over 49,000 fans, which is more than the crowds seen at other big sports events in the city, like the Rugby Sevens. Some experts believe the football festival could become just as popular and return every year.

Liverpool’s top players, including Mohamed Salah, faced off against AC Milan. Milan won the game 4-2 and is reportedly interested in coming back next year. Tottenham’s coach Thomas Frank also said he’d think about returning because “everything was arranged perfectly.”

However, not everything was perfect. Some players, like Van Dijk and AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori, said the grass on the field could have been better. Also, some teams were less open to the media and fans. For example, only a small number of Tottenham fans got to meet the players briefly, and some media interviews were limited to just two questions.

But Tottenham coach Frank made a surprise appearance at a local fan club event, which made fans happy. Meanwhile, Van Dijk shared that he and some teammates walked around Mong Kok, a busy area in Hong Kong, to learn more about the local culture. “It was nice to get a feel for everything,” he said.

Overall, the Football Festival gave Hong Kong a major boost in its effort to become a global football destination. The combination of big-name teams, passionate fans, a top-level stadium, and good organization made this event memorable. Many people now hope it will happen every year — just like the Rugby Sevens — and continue bringing fans from all over the world to Hong Kong.