Hong Kong secured the first international football title in its history on Saturday, defeating Cambodia 2–0 in the ASEAN Challenge Cup final at Kai Tak Sports Park. The victory marks a historic milestone for the team currently ranked 153rd in the FIFA world rankings, coming more than seven decades after the territory played its first official international fixture.
ASEAN Challenge Cup Triumph at Kai Tak Sports Park
Playing in front of a home crowd on Saturday, Hong Kong controlled the final against Cambodia to claim the inaugural ASEAN Challenge Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino traveled to the venue to attend the match and personally presented the trophy to the winning squad. The tournament, launched last year, is designed specifically for second-tier national teams across Southeast Asia.
Six federations competed in the first edition of the competition: Hong Kong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, and Timor-Leste. For Hong Kong, the tournament win erases a decades-long drought in senior international competitions. Prior to Saturday, the program’s peak achievement stood as a third-place finish at the 1956 AFC Asian Cup. The team’s inaugural official match took place in June 1954 in Manila, where Hong Kong defeated Afghanistan 4–2.
Roberto Losada Leads Squad with Naturalized Players
Spanish manager Roberto Losada has directed the national team since last year. The 49-year-old coach arrived in the role with extensive prior experience managing clubs within the Hong Kong domestic league, giving him deep familiarity with local players.
The title-winning squad features several naturalized players, including 24-year-old Paris native Raphaël Merkies. Merkies, who plays for Chinese club Shandong Taishan—where former Belgium international Marouane Fellaini finished his career—entered Saturday’s final in the 77th minute to secure his first career trophy. Having moved to Hong Kong at age 14, Merkies held eligibility for multiple nations through his Dutch and Laotian heritage before committing to the territory’s national team.
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