Liverpool, AC Milan, Chelsea, Sevilla ... Asia is their new goal
The continent’s burgeoning interest in the world’s top leagues continues to affect how huge clubs do their business, including how they spend the off-season
With domestic football seasons across Europe kicking off in just a few weeks, jetting halfway around the world to play friendly matches in Asia’s sweltering summer heat seems like an odd way to prepare for a title run.
But top clubs from countries including Britain, Italy and Germany will do just that as they fight for the attentions, and disposable incomes, of the region’s ever-growing legions of football fanatics.
Among those heading east, 18-time English league champions Liverpool will headline a contingent of four clubs in the Premier League Asia Trophy, starting from at 6pm Wednesday at Hong Kong Stadium. Tournament organisers said the event sold out in record time, with more than 50,000 tickets snapped up in just over 24 hours.
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Liverpool fan Nanette Lam was among the lucky ones who got their hands on tickets. After waking up at all hours over the past few years to watch her favourite club live on television, she could not pass up the chance to finally cheer them on in person.
“In Hong Kong we don’t have a lot of options to watch world-class sports, so I’m excited to be able to experience a match with that level of competitiveness and atmosphere,” Lam said. “True football fans will come from all over Asia to watch.”
But fans without a ticket for the Hong Kong series need not despair, being spoilt for choice this month when it comes to watching European clubs throughout the region.
In Guangzhou on Tuesday, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund will square off against Italian giants AC Milan in the International Champions Cup, the first of seven matches to be hosted in China and Singapore. Five other elite clubs are signed up to take part in the preseason tournament, including German champions Bayern Munich, English champions Chelsea and France’s Olympique Lyonnais. Meanwhile, Spain’s Sevilla will join the Meiji Yasuda J.League World Challenge in Japan, and are scheduled to play against local club Kashima Antlers on Saturday.
