AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: India, Hong Kong aim to kickstart campaign at Kai Tak Stadium

Kowloon: India and Hong Kong will face off in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, Third Round match, at the Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday.  Placed in Pot 1 for the qualifiers, India, ranked 127th, got off to a slow start with a draw against Bangladesh in March. Meanwhile, Pot 2 side Hong Kong, ranked 153, could also only manage a point in Singapore, meaning there is still nothing to separate the four sides after the first matchday.

For Hong Kong, June 10 will be a historic date. The game is not only a crucial qualifier in their search for only a second AFC Asian Cup berth in 59 years, but also the inaugural football match at the 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Hong Kong. Featuring a retractable roof and constructed at a cost of HK$30 billion at the site of the city’s former airport, the stadium even features a flexible pitch system for other sports and entertainment events.

It will be India and Hong Kong’s 25th meeting since their first in 1951. India lead the head-to-head with nine wins, Hong Kong have eight, while seven have been draws. However, the Blue Tigers have won only once on Hong Kong soil, a 2-1 friendly victory in 1957. IANS

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