The successful Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament last month, thrilling a record number of fans, is still fresh in the memory. The city’s drive to host an increasing number of top sporting events continues, signalled by the announcement of another landmark event in the summer. This time, the sport is football and the teams that will compete at Kai Tak Stadium in August are among the best Europe has to offer.

The second edition of Hong Kong’s football festival, which was first staged at Kai Tak last July, promises two memorable matches. They will be sandwiched between the Fifa World Cup and the start of the new domestic football season, ensuring there is no let-up in the action.

Two English giants of the game will face prestigious Italian rivals. Manchester City play Inter Milan four days before Chelsea meet Juventus. The star-studded encounters will be a feast for football fans, giving them a rare opportunity to see some of the world’s best players.

There is more. In addition to the festival, German champions Bayern Munich, who have a huge fan base on the mainland, will take on famous English club Aston Villa the same month.

Last year’s football festival, also featuring two matches, was a big success. The games combined drew almost 100,000 spectators, many from outside Hong Kong, with another 60,000 attending open training sessions. The event injected an estimated HK$428 million (US$54.6 million) into the local economy.

The city has moved on from the Lionel Messi debacle of 2024, when the player, one of the sport’s greatest, failed to make an appearance because of injury, infuriating thousands of supporters.