Topic
Hong Kong will compete in the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 54 years when the footballing event kicks off in 2023. After China withdrew from hosting the tournament, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia and Qatar all submitted bids to step in, with a decision expected in October 2022.
Hong Kong and China took different paths to elimination from the Asian Cup, but reflecting on their performance and progress will boost their prospects in the World Cup qualifiers
While fans are understandably excited about the impending arrival of the football great, the Asian Cup campaign by the Hong Kong team deserves the city’s full support.
- Hong Kong’s stylish travelling attire this year is the brainchild of coach Jorn Andersen, who wants the players to look more professional
- ‘The ‘dress smart, play smart’ theory is nothing new, with Italy’s national team lauded for their Giorgio Armani attire when they won Euro 2021
The duo were involved in a bust-up over a table-tennis match on the eve of the Koreans’ Asian Cup semi-final loss against Jordan in which Son played with a dislocated finger.
South Korea’s loss to Jordan in semi-finals extended 64-year wait to win continental competition for third time.
Korea Football Association’s national team committee not a decision-making body, but will send its findings to executive board.
Argument said to have escalated when Son complained about teammates eating dinner quickly so they could scoot off to play table tennis, on the eve of their shock Asian Cup exit.
Referee Ma Ning awards hosts hat-trick of spot kicks in disappointing end to enthralling month of football.
In a tournament boasting the likes of South Korea’s Son Heung-min, it is Musa Al-Taamari who has been the stand-out performer on his team’s way to a first final, where they will take on Qatar.
Victory will see hosts become first team in 20 years to defend title, making them part of an elite group. Ma Ning is the first Chinese official to take charge of an Asian Cup final.
Qatar’s Almoez Ali scores winner eight minutes from time, as defending champions set up final against Jordan.
Last chance for Iran’s veterans to win this tournament, coach Amir Ghalenoei says before semi-final against holders and hosts Qatar.
Jurgen Klinsmann says he accepts responsibility for semi-final loss to Jordan, but is now focused on country’s World Cup qualifying campaign
Coach says ‘confidence is there because we came through difficult games’ as they take on Jordan in Tuesday’s first semi-final in Qatar.
Spurs forward shrugs off talk of fatigue after his extra-time winner sent his team into the last four, having needed a 96th-minute equaliser to keep their hopes alive.
Officials say gaming platform Konami’s eFootball 2024 was unable to display the name ‘Hong Kong, China’, so the team withdrew from the competition.
Iran play last 30 minutes against Syria with 10 men, but hold on to win 5-3 on penalties.
Saudi Arabia manager Roberto Mancini says he left before Hwang Hee-chan’s winning kick in penalty shoot-out because he thought game was already over.
Palestine were playing in the knockout rounds of the tournament for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 in the group stage.
Side ranked 106th in the world and playing in continental competition for first time win penalty shootout 5-3. Australia cruise past Indonesia into last eight.
‘It is a Hong Kong player in a better league, which is positive,’ coach Jorn Andersen says after Matt Orr joins Sichuan Jiuniu – and he explains make-up of squad for friendly against Inter Miami.
Wu Chun-ming, one of the stand-out performers of city side’s Asian Cup campaign, says it is imperative players maintain their fitness levels when they return to club comfort zones.
South Korea’s draw with Malaysia sets up knockout clash with Saudi Arabia, with Japan facing Group E winners Bahrain.
The city’s stirring Asian Cup performances will go to waste unless there is a major shift in attitude towards sport, veteran goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai says.
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu hails improvements in Indonesia victory, but warns long way to go to compete with Asian heavyweights in Qatar.
An emotional Yue Tze-nam says he wants to ‘play for this team for the next 10 years’ after Asian Cup displays show Hong Kong’s rising aspirations, while travelling supporters chant ‘stay’ at coach Jorn Andersen.
Head coach Jorn Andersen says tired team were below par against Palestine in final Group C defeat, looks ahead to World Cup qualifiers.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu condemns those who targeted Zion Suzuki following shock Asian Cup loss to Iraq, saying: ‘This cannot happen in a diverse world.’
City’s national team concede two goals in 12 second-half minutes, following early opener for Palestine, as faint hopes of a place in the last 16 slip away despite a trio of gutsy performances.
Social media users reject forward Wu Lei’s suggestion that China have struggled partly because the underdogs got better.
‘I have no regrets, because we did everything we could,’ Aleksandar Jankovic says after national team again lacked quality in defeat by hosts Qatar.
