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SCMP Sport

Four of the world’s biggest clubs are taking part in the Hong Kong Football Festival.
After Liverpool and AC Milan on Saturday matched the six-goal tally of their epic 2005 Champions League final, eyes are turning to the first-ever North London derby outside the UK.
On Thursday, it’s Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur in the city’s new Kai Tak Stadium. The action and atmosphere there during Milan’s 4-2 win over the Reds gave the Londoners plenty to live up to.
But who is actually coming to Hong Kong? Let’s take a look.

Arsenal
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Captain: Martin Odegaard
New signings: Martin Zubimendi (US$81m), Victor Gyokeres (US$76m) Noni Madueke ($US65m), Christian Norgaard (US$13.6m), Kepa Arrizabalaga (US$6.8m)
Last visit to Hong Kong: 2012, v Kitchee (2-2)
A third second-place finish in a row for the Gunners, leaving fans divided on whether this level of consistency means progress or failure.
Of their new arrivals, Madueke will not be in Hong Kong, having left Chelsea to join Arsenal during the Blues’ run to Club World Cup glory.
Travelling squad:
David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Tommy Setford, Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko, William Saliba, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Josh Nichols, Marli Salmon, Martin Odegaard, Christian Norgaard, Mikel Merino, Sambi Lokonga, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Louie Copley, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, Reiss Nelson, Kai Havertz, Ismeal Kabia, Max Dowman, Andre Harriman-Annous.
Tottenham Hotspur

Manager: Thomas Frank
Captain: Son Heung-min
New signings: Mohammed Kudus (US$75m), Matthys Tel (US$41m), Kevin Danso (US$29.3m), Luka Vuskovic (US$13m), Kota Takai (US$6.8m)
Despite winning a first trophy for 17 years with victory in the Europa League final, Ange Postecoglou was shown the door at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Frank arrives with shoes to fill. In his unveiling, he said he had yet to decide whether Son would retain the armband, but victory over Arsenal in any context would be a sure way to get fans on side.
Travelling squad:
George Abbott, Brandon Austin, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Yves Bissouma, Jun’ai Byfield, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies, Jamie Donley, Archie Gray, Luca Gunter, Brennan Johnson, Antonin Kinsky, Mohammed Kudus, Will Lankshear, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Pape Matar Sarr, Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-min, Djed Spence, Mathys Tel, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Luka Vuskovic, Yang Min-Hyeok.
Last visit to Hong Kong: 2017, v Kitchee (4-1, post-season)
Liverpool


Manager: Arne Slot
Captain: Virgil van Dijk
New signings: Hugo Ekitike (US$112 million), Florian Wirtz (US$156m), Milos Kerkez (US$55m), Jeremie Frimpong (US$47m)
Previous visit to Hong Kong: 2017 v Crystal Palace (2-0), Leicester City (2-1)
The Premier League champions have undergone something of a revolution in the summer, somehow getting even stronger.
A British record fee to sign Wirtz, alongside former teammate Frimpong – as a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold – from Bayer Leverkusen, has made them one of the most feared teams in Europe next season.
Yet they still fell to a 4-2 defeat against Milan in Hong Kong on July 26.
Travelling squad:
Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas, Andrew Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Ben Doak, Freddie Woodman, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Armin Pecsi, Rio Ngumoha, Kornel Misciur, Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley, Luca Stephenson, Trey Nyoni.
AC Milan

Manager: Massimiliano Allegri
Captain: Mike Maignan
New signings: Samuele Ricci (US$27m), Luka Modric (Free), Pietro Terracciano (Free)
Previous visit to Hong Kong: 2004, v Kitchee (1-2)
Unfortunately, the legendary Modric was not in Hong Kong, having starred for Real Madrid at the Fifa Club World Cup.
It was a difficult 2024-25 for Milan, who finished eighth, but the return of six-time Serie A winner Allegri could spark a revival of fortunes – starting with their impressive win over Liverpool at Kai Tak.
Travelling squad:
Mike Maignan, Matteo Pittarella, Pietro Terracciano, Lorenzo Torriani, Davide Bartesaghi, Matteo Dutu, Matteo Gabbia, Alex Jimenez, Vittorio Magni, Strahinja Pavlovic, Filippo Terracciano, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, Warren Bondo, Christian Comotto, Youssouf Fofana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Samuele Ricci, Alexis Saelemaekers, Samuel Chukwueze, Lorenzo Colombo, Rafael Leao, Mattia Liberali, Noah Okafor.


After showcasing football stars, Hong Kong must focus on the local game

Hong Kong’s local football needs to harness festival passion

Could Hong Kong Football Festival rival city’s rugby sevens as its crown jewel?

Kai Tak football fest a win for Hong Kong as host of elite sporting events

Hong Kong Football Festival 2025

Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Milan in Hong Kong: meet the stars of Football Festival

Arsenal players celebrate a goal during their pre-season clash with Newcastle United in Singapore, before their arrival in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

Captain Martin Odegaard will be among the Arsenal players in Hong Kong. Photo: EPA

Son Heung-min (centre) holds aloft the Europa League trophy in Bilbao. Photo: Reuters

AC Milan fans cheer on their side against Arsenal in Singapore. Photo: EPA

How to get the best kick out of the coming Hong Kong Football Festival

Fans welcome Liverpool’s squad at Hong Kong International Airport earlier this week. Photo: Dickson Lee

A Tottenham Hotspur pop-up store in Kai Tak, which has opened ahead of the Hong Kong Football Festival. Photo: Eugene Lee

Liverpool’s 29-man squad arrives at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday. The team will face AC Milan in a friendly at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Ekitike to Liverpool: Hong Kong fans first to see US$112 million signing

Hugo Ekitike celebrates Eintracht Frankfurt’s Champions League qualification in May. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Football

We introduce the clubs and their squads for the big matches at Kai Tak Stadium


We introduce the clubs and their squads for the big matches at Kai Tak Stadium.


English Premier League

Italian Serie A

Son Heung-min

Massimiliano Allegri

Jeremie Frimpong

Mikel Arteta

Thomas Frank

Virgil Van Dijk

Ange Postecoglou

Noni Madueke

Arne Slot

Luka Doncic

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Milan in Hong Kong: meet the stars of Football Festival

We introduce the clubs and their squads for the big matches at Kai Tak Stadium

Arsenal