Arsenal will take on Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong, marking the first-ever North London derby held outside the United Kingdom, both clubs announced on Monday.
The match will take place at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium, which boasts a 50,000-seat capacity, on July 31.
Arsenal’s managing director, Richard Garlick, expressed excitement over the fixture, calling it a “great experience” for both teams and fans and emphasised its importance as part of the club’s preparations for the upcoming season.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will face Serie A’s AC Milan at the same stadium on July 26. This will be a rematch of the iconic 2005 UEFA Champions League final, which Liverpool won after a dramatic comeback and penalty shootout victory.
Liverpool are expected to head to Hong Kong as Premier League champions, currently holding a 12-point lead with nine matches remaining.
Both clubs will also have additional international pre-season plans, with Liverpool scheduled to visit Japan for the first time, although dates for this tour have not been revealed.
Hong Kong recently unveiled its $3.85 billion sports park, with the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Stadium serving as the centrepiece.
The stadium had its first major event over the weekend, hosting the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, which attracted over 110,000 spectators.
This pre-season event is part of Hong Kong’s efforts to restore its global image following a period of political unrest and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism.
