The Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur match at the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 set a new attendance record at Kai Tak Stadium, with 49,975 spectators surpassing the previous high set during Liverpool vs. AC Milan, marking a perfect finale for the football extravaganza. The two matches collectively drew nearly 100,000 attendees, not only making it Hong Kong's most popular football event in history but also ushering in a historic milestone as the Stadium welcomed its 1 millionth visitor, signaling a new chapter for this "home ground of Hong Kong."
Following the Liverpool vs. AC Milan match that attracted 49,704 fans, the Arsenal-Tottenham clash once again packed the stadium to capacity with 49,975 attendees. Fans began gathering at Kai Tak Sports Park three hours before kickoff. As the first overseas edition of the North London Derby, the atmosphere reached unprecedented intensity. Arsenal fans, dominating in numbers, chanted "Arsenal!" and sang the club anthem, The Angel, to rally the crowd, while Tottenham supporters responded with their anthem When the Spurs Go Marching In and formed "THFC" with placards. The match culminated in Pape Matar Sarr scoring the sole goal with a long-range strike, securing a 1-0 victory for Tottenham and concluding the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 amidst roaring applause.
Since its official opening on March 1, Kai Tak Stadium has hosted the Hong Kong Sevens, the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier (Hong Kong vs. India), the Hong Kong Football Festival, and multiple major concerts, achieving the 1-million-visitor milestone in just five months.
Lucky fan receives commemorative gifts
To celebrate the milestone, John Sharkey, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park, personally greeted the 1 millionth visitor at the entrance. The lucky fan, Mr. Yip, and his family received special edition commemorative T-shirts, event tickets, dining vouchers for The Champion sports bar, and an upgrade to the stadium's premium for star-studded hospitality.
Mr. Yip expressed pride in Kai Tak's role, "Hong Kong now boasts a world-class venue, and I'm moved to be part of this. We can proudly tell the world that Hong Kong has a top-tier stadium to host global events—this is a pride for all Hongkongers."
Football as a universal language
Mr. Koo, an Arsenal supporter for 25 years who previously visited the Emirates Stadium, brought his mother to their first live match together at Kai Tak. "We came to experience this new venue. With the full squad here, I hope to get Declan Rice's autograph," he said.
While many pass their fandom to the next generation, Mr. Koo converted his mother into a fan. When asked about her favorite player, she shyly admitted: "Very old-school—Thierry Henry."
She wore his jersey, borrowed from her son's collection, though Mr. Koo teased: "She likes Messi."
For clubs like Arsenal with century-long histories, most Asian fans are first-generation supporters—but the legacy is already taking root.
A father's success in passing on the fandom
The Wan and Ng families, clad in Arsenal jerseys, were thrilled for their first North London Derby abroad. Mr. Ng, a 40-year Arsenal fan who previously watched matches in the UK, said: "We planned this trip immediately after the announcement, though we couldn't get adjacent seats."
For Mr. Wan, who'd spent countless late nights watching matches on TV, this was his first live experience with his wife and daughter—the latter now a Gooner thanks to his "strategic indoctrination." "I'd explain who each player was during broadcasts, so now she knows them all."
Though they supported across different eras, the family shared the same passion through highs and lows. As his daughter put it: "There were tough times, but now the team's rising—it's thrilling to watch." That's the magic of football.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Kwok Ching-hin; English Editor: Darius)
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