Hong Kong has further cemented its status as Asia’s premier football hub, hosting a series of high-profile events in 2025, including the Manchester United Tour of Asia in May, the Hong Kong Football Festival in July featuring Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, and the Saudi Super Cup in August with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The city recently welcomed the World Football Summit (WFS) Asia expansion at AsiaWorld-Expo on September 3-4, 2025. The event brought together investors, industry innovators, football legends, and fans, creating a platform to explore the business and cultural impact of football in the region. Discussions at the summit covered international expansion, youth development, digital transformation, investment, technology, AI, sustainability, and community engagement.
In addition to high-level networking and industry insights, attendees experienced Hong Kong through curated tours, including rides on the city’s historic tram and open-top bus, as well as tasting traditional dim sum. The combination of football, business, and local culture highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a destination for both sports and MICE events.
Jan Alessie, co-founder and managing director of WFS, said: “With our debut in Hong Kong, we’re not only bringing that same energy to Asia – we’re building a platform for long-term collaboration, investment, and innovation in the region’s game. We believe Hong Kong can become a bridge between East and West for football, driving growth and unlocking new opportunities for the game across the region.”
Anthony Lau, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, added: “The World Football Summit is one of the world’s most influential football conventions. Being the host city, Hong Kong demonstrates its increasingly influential role on the global sports scene as an ideal host city for both sports events and MICE events for the sports industry. HKTB also extended its warm hospitality by thoughtfully arranging immersive tours of Hong Kong for the visiting football legends and Summit guests, enriching their business travel experience.”
