The Hong Kong national football team returns to the 2023 Asian Nations Cup after an absence of about 55 years, and its last continental participation was in the 1968 edition, which was hosted by Iran.
Qatar will host the 18th edition of the continental championship from January 12 to February 10, 2024.
The Dragons team plays in the third group alongside the teams of Iran, the Emirates and Palestine.
Establishing
The Hong Kong Football Association was officially established in 1914, and gained membership in the East Asian Football Association in 2002. It joined the Asian and International Federations of the game in 1954.
The team played its first official match on June 20, 1947, and defeated South Vietnam 3-2.
His participation in the Asian Cup
The Hong Kong national team participated 3 times in the continental championship:
- 1956 edition in Hong Kong: The team got third place.
- 1964 version: fourth place
- 1968 version in Iran: Fifth place
Hong Kong failed to secure a seat in 13 consecutive editions.
The most prominent players in the Dragons team
The Hong Kong national team includes players, the majority of whom are active in the local league, most notable of whom are:
- Captain Huang Yang, Hong Kong Player of the Year 2013.
- Mark Chen (37 international matches).
- Matt Orr (18 games).
- Goalkeeper Yap Hong Fai (88 matches).
Former international striker Chan Siu Ki is the team’s all-time top scorer (40 goals) between 2004-2017, followed by another retired player, O Wai Lun, who scored 26 goals in 50 international matches.
Hong Kong coach
Norwegian Jørn Andersen (60 years old) took over supervision of the Hong Kong national team in December 2021, succeeding Finnish Mixo Paatelainen.
In June 2022, the technician, who also holds German citizenship, succeeded in leading Hong Kong to qualify for the continental championship in Qatar after a long absence.
Hong Kong matches in Group C
- January 14: UAE x Hong Kong (Khalifa International Stadium).
- January 19: Hong Kong x Iran (Khalifa International Stadium).
- January 23: Hong Kong x Palestine (Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium).
