Cover The Hong Kong Football Festival took place in Kai Tak Stadium on August 1 & 5 (Photo by Him Lam/TEG HK)
The Hong Kong Football Festival took place in Kai Tak Stadium on August 1 & 5 (Photo by Him Lam/TEG HK)
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Four European institutions arrived in Kai Tak for 90 minutes of pre-season football, twice over. Here’s what happened at the second annual Hong Kong Football Festival
As an accredited media partner of the Hong Kong Football Festival (HKFF) for a second year running, Tatler had a front-row seat to all the 2026 action. By 6pm on August 1, the crowd moving out of Kai Tak MTR station into the stadium had become a mural of sky blue and Milanese navy—families in matching jerseys, toddlers on shoulders, strangers trading chants they’d clearly been practising all summer. This was a city that had spent its summer glued to the Fifa World Cup, yet evidently hadn’t had its fill of the beautiful game. The HKFF kicked off with Manchester City versus Inter Milan, with the Asahi Super Dry Trophy at stake. City’s touring squad, confirmed just days earlier, was led by Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Inter’s included captain Nicolò Barella and players Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Federico Dimarco; several of this summer’s World Cup quarter-finalists on both sides were held back at home for mandated rest.
Read more: Erling Haaland: 9 things to know about the World Cup’s ‘cyborg’ who loves Birkins
On August 1, Inter Milan beat Manchester City on penalties, taking home the Asahi Superdry Trophy
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Divin Mubama put City ahead in the 14th minute, latching onto a pass from Antoine Semenyo, before Benjamin Pavard levelled six minutes later off a driving run and cross from Dimarco. Neither side found a winner, and the match went to penalties; Inter’s Matteo Lavelli kept his nerve to seal the Asahi Super Dry Trophy 3-1, sending a large share of the 42,000-strong crowd into a state of delirium. “Hong Kong has done it again,” said Rachael Carroll, managing director of TEG Sport, HKFF’s promoter and organiser. “Football fans across the city once again welcomed the world’s premier clubs and stars with incredible hospitality and grace, and the clubs and stars returned that welcome with a fantastic occasion.”
On August 5, Chelsea, the reigning Fifa Club World Cup holders, faced Juventus in front of a crowd of more than 43,000. Chelsea’s touring squad included João Pedro and Moisés Caicedo, while Juventus brought Jonathan David, Douglas Luiz and Edon 6Zhegrova to Kai Tak. After a nil-nil first half, it was Zhegrova who broke the deadlock in the second half; that goal proved enough to hand Juventus the Herbalgy Trophy.
Roberto Di Matteo
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Numbers and data tend to matter more to the organisers than to fans, but they are worth sharing anyway: the two years of HKFF have generated HK$437 million and drawn more than 100,000 fans 11 through the gates—the largest crowd this city has ever recorded for live football. That’s in large part 9 due to the robust programming and hype generated ahead of the two marquee events. Much of that economic value runs through what the Hong Kong government has started calling the city’s “ticket stub economy”: restaurants, malls and attractions inside and around Kai Tak Sports Park that offer game-day discounts fans were only too happy to use.
Ahead of the games, 65 children from CityLab, HKFF’s official community partner for a second year running, spent a morning at Kai Tak Sports Park under the instruction of Hong Kong football veterans Chan Wai Ho and Yapp Hung Fai, part of the Feel the Passion coaching clinic that has become the Festival’s opening act. Roughly 100 local youngsters were later written into the opening ceremonies of both matches—a moment they surely will never forget.
See also: Kai Tak comes of age: how Hong Kong won back its place on the world sporting stage
Above Elva Ni
Elva Ni
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VIPs also came out in droves. Timothy Fok, president of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee (SF&OC) of Hong Kong, and president of the HKFA for 26 years until 2023, watched from the hospitality suites alongside his son Kenneth Fok, vice-president of the SF&OC. Pui Kwan-kay, president of the Football Association of Hong Kong, and Rosanna Law, secretary for culture, sports and tourism, were also in attendance, alongside Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China. Danny Yeung, the entrepreneur behind Prenetics and the supplement brand IM8, was also spotted. A third edition hasn’t been confirmed officially, but after two years of top-notch teams playing in the city, the real question isn’t whether Hong Kong will get another Festival, but how much bigger the next one would have to be to top this year’s. Watch this space.
Credits
Photography: Him Lam, Patrick Leung and Zed Leets
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print. She also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts — curates star-studded events, and builds the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
