Hong Kong Stadium is the main sports venue of Hong Kong. Redeveloped from the original Government Stadium, it reopened as Hong Kong Stadium in March 1994. It has a maximum seating capacity of 40,000, including 18,260 at the main level, 3,173 at executive level, 18,510 upper-level seats and 57 seats for wheelchair users.
The stadium is located in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, in valley of Caroline Hill. It hosted the inaugural AFC Asian Cup finals and the AFC Women's Asian Cup for four times. Most international football matches held in Hong Kong are held at this stadium. Between 1982 and 2024, it hosted the Hong Kong Sevens annually. Hong Kong Stadium has also hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice, in 1997 and 2005. The stadium is home to the Hong Kong national football team and hosts international matches for Hong Kong Premier League club side Kitchee SC.
History So Kon Po was formerly the burial ground for the 1918 Fire at Happy Valley Racecourse. Then the Hong Kong Government moved all the tombs to Aberdeen. The old Government Stadium was a U-shaped constructed by 1953 and had a capacity of 28,000Takungpao, 1956-09-05, page 8 with partially covered seating.
The old Government Stadium was only partially covered, without sufficient seats or lighting systems. In the 90s, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club proposed a reconstruction plan so that Hong Kong can have a world class sports stadium.
1994 Re-construction and Wembley International In the early 1990s, the Government Stadium was reconstructed into a 40,000-seat rectangular stadium. No running track was built due to the restricted land size. This forced the schools to look for alternative venues.
The stadium's management contract was won by Wembley International, a foreign subsidiary of Wembley Stadium, against strong competition, in March 1994.
From the first day there have been serious problems with the pitch. The owners of the stadium, the Urban Council, were disappointed. It came under fire from local football officials, sports promoters and even Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who said, before the exhibition match between Manchester United and South China AA on 20 July 1997, "The pitch is cutting up. The surface is just sand-based and the turf doesn't hold well. Injuries can occur."Major overhaul on the cards for troubled stadium
The government had hoped that the stadium could be used as a music concert venue in order to bring in more rental income. But nearby citizens complained endlessly about 'noise levels', leading to restrictions on noise levels that effectively rendered the stadium unsuitable for concerts. This reduced greatly the income levels of the stadium and the management company, Wembley, ran into financial troubles.
1998 Hong Kong government takeover Wembley's management tenure at the stadium was abruptly terminated by the Provisional Urban Council (PUC) on 26 May 1998. PUC also asked Urban Services Department (USD) to assume temporary management of the Hong Kong Stadium and has also agreed to USD's proposals to return the entire pitch of the Hong Kong Stadium. The fundamental issue between the parties was the care and maintenance of the stadium pitch, but also a complaint about an unauthorized bungy jump by Canadian Paul G. Boyle.
In the end, the Hong Kong government was judged to have wrongfully terminated the management agreement and had to pay over HK$20 million in damages to Wembley Plc.
Hong Kong Stadium is now managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong, after the Urban Council was disbanded.
Football Local matches Hong Kong Premier League Hong Kong Premier League clubs South China, Kitchee, Pegasus and Eastern had used Hong Kong Stadium as home.
Full house The first full house official football match (i.e. non-exhibition match) at the Hong Kong Stadium was the 2009 AFC Cup semi-final second leg between South China AA and Kuwait SC. 資料庫：正賽爆棚 紅旗再現 Apple Daily. 22 October 2009. This was added to in the same year by the 2009 East Asian Games football final between Hong Kong U23 and Japan U23. Although there were empty seats in the stadium, all tickets were sold or distributed. 持票者甩底 大球場未滿座 Apple Daily. 13 December 2009.
International matches Hong Kong Stadium had hold numerous exhibition games. Notable national teams include Argentina and England. For clubs, all Premier League Big Six clubs—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur have played in the stadium. Other famous clubs include Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven, Juventus, Leicester City, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and São Paulo.
AFC Asian Cup The inaugural AFC Asian Cup finals was held in Hong Kong Stadium from 1 September to 15 September 1956 as a four-team round-robin competition with no final. It was won by South Korea, while Hong Kong finished third place. The stadium has also hosted the AFC Women's Asian Cup for four times, including the inaugural in 1975, 1981, 1986 and 1989.
Lunar New Year Cup The stadium has hosted matches of the Lunar New Year Cup. Notable visiting national teams include Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, and FR Yugoslavia.
1997–98 Asian Club Championship The semi-finals and final of the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship were held at Hong Kong Stadium.
Hong Kong v Real Madrid Luis Figo scored the first goal for Real Madrid from the penalty spot after Roberto Carlos was brought down in the area during the pre-season friendly match against Hong Kong select XI at the Hong Kong Stadium on 8 August 2003. Real Madrid won the match 4–2.
Kitchee v Manchester City On 24 July 2019, Hong Kong Stadium held a club friendly match between Premier League champions Manchester City and Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee. where Manchester City won 6–1.
Hong Kong v Inter Miami On 4 February 2024, Hong Kong Stadium held a friendly match between Hong Kong League XI and Inter Miami CF, led to a controversy due to Lionel Messi's absence.
Premier League Asia Trophy The ground has hosted the Premier League Asia Trophy for four times, including the 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2017 edition, more than any other stadium.
Saudi Super Cup Hong Kong Stadium hosted the Saudi Super Cup in 2025.
Notable football matches held at Hong Kong Stadium Notable football matches held at Hong Kong StadiumDateHomeResultAwayTournamentAttendanceRef1 September 1956 Hong Kong2–3 Israel1956 AFC Asian Cup30,0006 September 1956 South Korea2–2 Hong Kong25,0008 September 1956 Israel1–2 South Korea25,0009 September 1956 South Vietnam2–2 Hong Kong20,00012 September 1956 Israel2–1 South Vietnam10,00015 September 1956 South Korea5–3 South Vietnam13,00014 June 1976 Hong Kong0–04–3 Japan1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification Group match26,80121 June 19760–1 China28,55020 September 1979 Seiko3–3 New York CosmosExhibition game27,6125 December 1980 Hong Kong1–0 AustraliaInternational friendly9,54828 December 1980 Hong Kong2–2 North Korea1982 FIFA World Cup qualification First round Group stage27,62931 December 1980 Hong Kong0–0 4–5 China1982 FIFA World Cup qualification First round Zonal semi-finals27,58210 January 1982 Seiko0–2 Boca JuniorsExhibition game28,00017 February 1985 Hong Kong0–0 China1986 FIFA World Cup qualification First round Group stage20,93522 September 1985 Hong Kong1–2 Japan1986 FIFA World Cup qualification Second round Second leg28,0005 April 1994 South China4–2 São PauloExhibition game4 February 1995 Hong Kong League XI1–3 Colombia1995 Lunar New Year Cup30,745 FR Yugoslavia1–0 South Korea7 February 1995 Hong Kong League XI0–1 Poland1996 Lunar New Year Cup32,019 Japan1–14–5 Sweden19 February 1995 Hong Kong0–3 Japan1995 Dynasty Cup Group stage29,75326 February 1995 Hong Kong1–13–1 China1995 Dynasty Cup Third place match27,66826 May 1996 Golden XI0–1 EnglandExhibition game30 May 1996 South China0–1 Instant-Dict1995–96 Hong Kong First Division League Grand final31,21020 July 1997 South China0–1 Manchester UnitedExhibition game36,6113 April 1998 Persepolis0–2 Dalian Wanda1997–98 Asian Club Championship Semi-finals Pohang Steelers1–0 Al-Hilal5 April 1998 Persepolis1–4 Al-Hilal1997–98 Asian Club Championship Third place match Dalian Wanda0–0 5–6 Pohang Steelers1997–98 Asian Club Championship Final24 July 1999 South China0–2 Manchester UnitedExhibition game40,00011 February 2001 Paraguay1–15–6 South Korea2001 Lunar New Year Cup30,000 Hong Kong League XI1–2 Norway29 January 2002 Hong Kong League XI1–14–3 China2002 Lunar New Year Cup26,2441 February 2002 China0–03–4 Slovenia30,329 Hong Kong League XI0–1 Honduras27 July 2003 Hong Kong0–6 LiverpoolExhibition game40,0008 August 2003 Hong Kong Select XI2–4 Real MadridExhibition game39,00031 May 2004 Kitchee2–1 AC MilanExhibition game16,92325 January 2005 Hong Kong1–7 Brazil2005 Lunar New Year Cup23,42523 July 2005 Hong Kong XI0–2 Manchester UnitedExhibition game33,97124 July 2007 Fulham0–1 Portsmouth2007 Premier League Asia Trophy36,801 South China1–3 Liverpool27 July 2007 South China1–4 Fulham39,535 Liverpool0–02–4 Portsmouth11 August 2007 Mission Hills Invitation XI0–4 BarcelonaExhibition game23,7929 March 2008 South China invitation team2–25–4 LA GalaxyExhibition game14,06022 May 2008 South China invitation team3–1 Manchester CityExhibition game17,516 South China2–1 Juventus2 August 2009 South China2–0 Tottenham HotspurExhibition game23,02530 September 2009 South China1–0 Neftchi Farg'ona2009 AFC Cup Quarter-finals Second leg20,11221 October 20090–1 Al-Kuwait2009 AFC Cup Semi-finals Second leg37,45912 December 2009 Japan U201–1 2–4 Hong Kong U23 2009 East Asian Games Gold medal match31,88427 July 2011 Aston Villa1–0 Blackburn Rovers2011 Premier League Asia Trophy33,967 Kitchee0–4 Chelsea30 July 2011 Kitchee0–3 Blackburn Rovers38,911 Chelsea2–0 Aston Villa29 July 2012 Kitchee2–2 ArsenalExhibition game39,20924 July 2013 Tottenham Hotspur1–3 Sunderland2013 Premier League Asia Trophy35,950 Manchester City1–0 South China27 July 2013 Tottenham Hotspur6–0 South China39,544 Manchester City1–0 Sunderland29 July 2013 Kitchee2–5 Manchester UnitedExhibition game39,10229 July 2014 Kitchee2–6 Paris Saint-GermainExhibition game17,15314 October 2014 Hong Kong0–7 ArgentinaInternational friendly20,23026 May 2017 Kitchee1–4 Tottenham HotspurExhibition game27,56819 July 2017 Leicester City0–07–6 West Bromwich Albion2017 Premier League Asia Trophy39,273 Liverpool2–0 Crystal Palace22 July 2017 West Bromwich Albion0–2 Crystal Palace39,498 Liverpool2–1 Leicester City24 July 2019 Kitchee1–6 Manchester CityExhibition game20,9264 February 2024 Hong Kong League XI1–4 Inter MiamiExhibition game38,41727 August 2024 Kitchee1–6 Atlético MadridExhibition game15,03430 May 2025 Hong Kong1–3 Manchester UnitedExhibition game33,09819 August 2025 Al-Nassr2–1 Al-Ittihad2025 Saudi Super Cup Semi-finals30,65320 August 2025 Al-Qadsiah1–5 Al-Ahli16,25323 August 2025 Al-Nassr2–23–5 Al-Ahli2025 Saudi Super Cup Final30,240
Rugby From 1982 to 2024, the annual Hong Kong Sevens tournament was hosted at Hong Kong Stadium. The stadium has also hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice, in 1997 and 2005.
On 1 November 2008, the ground became the first stadium outside of Australia and New Zealand to host a Bledisloe Cup test match, where New Zealand's All Blacks triumphed over Australia's Wallabies with a score of 19–14. In 2010, the Hong Kong Stadium welcomed 26,210 spectators for the second Bledisloe Cup rugby union game.
On 1 June 2013, the British and Irish Lions and Barbarian F.C. played a rugby union match at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes The ground has hosted matches of the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes since 1996 to 1997.
2009 East Asian Games