Football in Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
History
The first football competition of Hong Kong is the Challenge ShieldHong Kong Challenge Shield
Hong Kong Challenge Shield is one of the oldest football competitions in Asia, established in 1896. It had been divided in Senior Challenge Shield and Junior Challenge Shield since 1922–23 season.-Champions:...
, which founded in 1898. Its format is similar to the FA Challenge Cup in England. The first football club of Hong Kong is Hong Kong Football Club
Hong Kong Football Club
The Soccer Section of Hong Kong Football Club has few teams. The First Team is competitng in Hong Kong Second Division League.-History:...
, usually known as The Club, founded in 1886. The Club is one of the exisitng oldest football club in Asia. Hongkong Football League
Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
was founded in 1908. The governing body of Hong Kong football, The Hong Kong Football Association was founded in 1914.
National team
The Hong Kong national football teamHong Kong national football team
The Hong Kong national football team , represents Hong Kong in international association football events such as the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup and East Asian Football Championship. The team is represented by the Hong Kong Football Association....
represents Hong Kong in international football events. The team competed their first international match in 1947 against South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
during the colonial period. Even after 1997 the transfer of sovereignty to China, it continues to represent Hong Kong separately from the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
as its own national team in international competitions due to the "One country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
" principle. The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, the closing time was during the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 121 teams entered the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament. Mexico, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition...
, which is also marked as their most successful period between 1970s and 1980s.
Domestic competitions
- Hong Kong First Division LeagueHong Kong First Division LeagueHong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
- Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
- Hong Kong FA CupHong Kong FA CupHong Kong FA Cup is a knockout cup competition in Hong Kong football, run by and named after The Hong Kong Football Association. The first edition of the competition was held in 1975, before then the cup was known as the Golden Jubilee Cup. The current season is the 33rd edition of the event...
- Hong Kong League CupHong Kong League CupThe Hong Kong League Cup is an annual football competition contested by clubs in the Hong Kong First Division League. The cup was relaunched for the 2010-11 season after being discontinued in the 2009-10 season.-Format:...