[Hong Kong, 24 July 2025]:  The Hong Kong Football Festival (HKFF) is underway with Liverpool FC conducting its Open Training session for fans today at Kai Tak Stadium on the team’s first visit to Hong Kong since 2017.

Liverpool FC will play AC Milan on Saturday, 26 July 5:15 pm (kick off at 7.30pm HK Time) for The Standard Chartered Trophy, the first of two matches in the inaugural HKFF.  

On 31 July, Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur, also at Kai Tak Stadium.

Both matches of the HKFF are sold out. 

“We’re incredibly excited to be playing AC Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium, we’ll be the first European friendly that has been hosted at the Kai Tak Stadium here in Hong Kong in front of a sell-out crowd which will be fantastic,” 

“Asia is a really important and huge fan base for the club so we’re incredibly excited to be here,” said Liverpool FC Chief Executive Officer Billy Hogan.

Over 27,300 spectators were on hand to watch Liverpool FC stars like Darwin Nunez, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk in action at the impressive new Kai Tak Stadium. 

“I’ve never been able to see Liverpool FC live before and I just want to see Mo Salah,” said The Reds superfan Skyler Yau, aged 11, before his wish was granted when Salah joined his teammates out on the Kai Tak Stadium pitch. “I am a fan because my dad is a fan ... and because Liverpool FC always win.”

The HKFF 2025 continues to represent a landmark moment for sport and community in the city — not only delivering thrilling football but also creating lasting social value for local youth, educators, parents, and athletes.

Amongst the thousands of fans attending today’s Open Training were beneficiaries of a programme put in place by event organiser TEG Sport and local non-profit CityLab HK that gave 11,000 complimentary Open Training tickets to youth-focused community associations and underrepresented groups across the city. 

With match tickets for the first ever international club games at Kai Tak Stadium selling out soon after ticket sales opening, tickets to the teams’ Open Training sessions remain the last opportunity to see the stars of these iconic football teams live and in person. 

AC Milan will conduct their Open Training tomorrow, Friday, 25 July, at 7:30pm, (gates open at 5.30pm) at Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal will hold their Open Training sessions at Kai Tak Stadium on 29 and 30 July, respectively.

Open Training tickets start at only $99 and are available via Cityline, offering fans a unique opportunity to watch their football heroes in action.

OPEN TRAINING SCHEDULE

• AC Milan – 7:30pm, Friday 25 July, Hong Kong Stadium

• Tottenham Hotspur – 6:00pm, Tuesday 29 July, Kai Tak Stadium

• Arsenal – 6:00pm, Wednesday 30 July, Kai Tak Stadium

Hong Kong Football Festival is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.