Inter Miami and its star player Lionel Messi will play an exhibition match against the Hong Kong team in February 2024. The US football club will come to the city as part of its first international tour and will face off against the home team at the Hong Kong Stadium on February 4. The club will announce more dates and destinations for its tour in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Inter Miami co-owner and former England captain David Beckham said, “Hong Kong is a beautiful city with a great sports scene. Throughout my career, I have spent a lot of time in Asia — I am so pleased to have the opportunity to bring Inter Miami to play our first international tour match in this fantastic city.”
Inter Miami will take on the best players from the Hong Kong First Division League during the match, which will is part of the American club’s 2024 pre-season. Tickets for the game will cost between HK$880 and HK$4,880, and will go on sale on December 15 on Klook. Football fans can also buy tickets for an open training session on February 3 at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Messi was recently revealed as Time’s Athlete of the Year for 2023, during which the Argentina star received his eighth Ballon d’Or award and joined Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami — a move that was instrumental in turning the US into “a fútbol nation”. These achievements come after Argentina won its third FIFA World Cup in November 2022, when Messi took home the Golden Ball — an honour bestowed on the best player of the tournament.
Earlier this year, David Beckham made a surprise stop in Hong Kong, and showed up at the Adidas store at Pacific Place. The football star interacted with the fans who thronged the mall to catch a glimpse of him and took selfies with them.
Image credits: Inter Miami CF