Hong Kong is setting its sights on leveraging the momentum gained from a summer filled with football excitement. The city played host to several high-profile events, including welcoming leading clubs from England, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Football fans were also treated to Cristiano Ronaldo opening a museum in the city. The Hong Kong Football Festival 2025, held at Kai Tak Stadium, further fueled the "football fever," drawing over 40,000 fans to watch Hong Kong's representative team compete against India.

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) is eager to capitalize on this surge in interest. Eric Fok Kai-shan, chairman of the HKFA, believes the new Kai Tak venue has elevated Hong Kong's status on the global football stage. Fok stated that Hong Kong played a significant role in world football this summer and aims to expand its involvement going forward. He also noted that the World Football Summit (WFS) in Hong Kong concluded a period of intense football enthusiasm.

The "Hong Kong Football Festival 2025" was a major highlight, featuring four of the world's top football clubs: Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur. These clubs participated in two blockbuster matches at Kai Tak Stadium. Liverpool and AC Milan faced off in the Standard Chartered Cup, while Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur played in the "Genesis Tech Cup," marking the first-ever North London Derby held outside of the UK. Open training sessions were also held, giving fans a closer look at their favorite teams.

Kai Tak Sports Park hosted a series of special events during the festival, providing fans with opportunities to meet football legends, purchase official merchandise, and participate in interactive activities. The first official Liverpool store in Hong Kong opened at the Retail Pavilion, offering a wide range of merchandise.

Pui Kwan-kay, president of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, sees the festival as a milestone for the city's sporting ambitions. He emphasized the event's role in showcasing Kai Tak Sports Park as a world-class venue and a gateway to the Chinese market. Kai Tak Sports Park CEO John Sharkey highlighted the stadium's features, such as a retractable roof and climate-controlled environment, as advantages for fans during Hong Kong's summer heat.

When asked how Hong Kong could capitalize on the sport's mini-boom, Fok pointed to the city's position as a "gateway to China" and its role in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The GBA is a Chinese government initiative to link Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong Province into a single development zone. While he did not provide specific details, Fok suggested that these factors could create opportunities for Hong Kong to further develop its role in world football.