Arsenal is set to face Tottenham in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong, marking the first North London derby to take place beyond the UK, as announced by the clubs on Monday. Meanwhile, Liverpool will take on AC Milan.
The much-anticipated clash between these London rivals will occur at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium in the southern Chinese city, which boasts a capacity of 50,000, on July 31.
“Competing against Tottenham Hotspur in the stunning new Kai Tak Stadium will be a thrilling experience for both clubs and their fans. It will play a crucial role in our pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming season,” commented Arsenal’s managing director, Richard Garlick.
Liverpool is scheduled to face Serie A powerhouse AC Milan on July 26 at the same venue.
This match will serve as a rematch of the legendary 2005 Champions League final, where the Reds triumphed in a penalty shootout after being down 3-0 at half-time.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool is expected to arrive in Hong Kong as Premier League champions, currently holding a comfortable 12-point lead with nine matches remaining.
The club will also make its inaugural trip to Japan during pre-season, although specific dates have yet to be announced.
This month, Hong Kong officially inaugurated a new $3.85 billion sports park, with the futuristic Kai Tak Stadium as its centrepiece.
The stadium hosted its first significant event over the weekend, welcoming over 110,000 spectators for the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens held across three days.
These events are part of broader efforts to rejuvenate the city’s image, which suffered significantly after political protests and the implementation of a Beijing-imposed national security law.
Visitor numbers to Hong Kong plummeted during nearly three years of stringent Covid restrictions, and are only just beginning to see a rebound.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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