Hong Kong football poised for huge Fifa Asean Cup windfall, China and India set to compete
City team could bank US$300,000 from winning second tier of inaugural tournament, Fifa invites China and India to play in first division
Hong Kong football could be in line for a windfall of nearly US$500,000 after more details emerged on Thursday about this year’s inaugural Fifa Asean Cup.
As previously reported, Hong Kong is expected to stage Division 2 of the tournament, which will feature six teams. The top tier appears set to swell to eight sides after China and India, the world’s two most populous nations, were apparently invited to compete in a naked attempt to escalate interest in an otherwise parochial event.
There has been no confirmation from the Chinese FA over their involvement but All India Football Federation deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan told the Times of India that his organisation had “accepted Fifa’s invitation and signed the participation agreement”.
Satyanarayan added that his organisation was “now awaiting more details”.
Approached again on Thursday, the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) did not respond to a request for comment.
The two-division tournament, set to be staged in the newly expanded Fifa international window this autumn, will reportedly boast a total prize pot of US$4 million.