World Football Summit Debuts in Hong Kong, Dim Sum, Skyline, Sports hub Charms Legends

Hong Kong, has established itself as Asia's premier showcase for football, having held a series of high-profile events – from Manchester United Tour of Asia 2025 in May to the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 in July, that welcomed four of the world's top football clubs, Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, and most recently The Saudi Super Cup in August, where Cristiano Ronaldo swelled football fandom, not only in the city but across the region.

Rio Ferdinand with Hong Kong Stunning Skyline

Football craze reached a fever pitch in town as the World Football Summit (WFS) made Hong Kong the destination for its Asia expansion. Bringing investors, innovators and passionate fans gathered at AsiaWorld-Expo on September 3-4, 2025, rubbing shoulders with iconic players such as former England and Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand, former Chelsea and England captain John Terry and Croatia's all-time top scorer Davor Šuker.

Mr Anthony Lau, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)'s Executive Director, said, "The World Football Summit is one of the world's most influential football conventions. Being the host city, Hong Kong demonstrates its increasingly influential role on the global sports scene as an ideal host city for both sports events and MICE events for the sports industry. HKTB also extended its warm hospitality by thoughtfully arranging immersive tours of Hong Kong for the visiting football legends and Summit guests, enriching their business travel experience. We will continue to bring more large-scale international MICE events to Hong Kong, so as to attract more high-yield, overnight MICE visitors to the city."

Hong Kong – Destination of choice for Global Expansion Applauded for Strategic Super-connector Advantages

World Football Summit Open Ceremony

At WFS, future-shaping insights from the industry's senior executives and thought-leaders were shared, covering international expansion, Asia's growing influence in the global game, youth development, grassroots pathways, digital transformation, investment, technology, AI, sustainability and community impact.

Football icons and global decision-makers of the sport also scored exceptional results in charting the business future of the sport, while fan engagement was kicked into high gear through an energy-filled football festival for all.

Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Managing Director of WFS, hailed Hong Kong as the most strategic choice for the summit's Asia expansion. "With our debut in Hong Kong, we're not only bringing that same energy to Asia – we're building a platform for long-term collaboration, investment, and innovation in the region's game. We believe Hong Kong can become a bridge between East and West for football, driving growth and unlocking new opportunities for the game across the region."

Hong Kong's Dim Sum and Stunning Skyline Captured Football Legends' Hearts

Guests of the World Football Summit toured the city

Fabio Capello savored the traditional Hong Kong cuisine

Guests of the World Football Summit toured the city

Beyond impactful discussions and high-level business networking, WFS VIPs and football legends – Rio Ferdinand, Former England & Manchester United captain, Fabio Capello Legendary Italian football manager, Marian Otamendi, CEO World Football Summit, and Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Managing Director World Football Summit were treated to classic Hong Kong experiences, courtesy of the HKTB. They had a close encounter with Hong Kong's iconic skyline by taking a ride on the city's historic tram and an open-top bus, savoured traditional dim sum through a personalised hospitality experience.

Rio Ferdinand, returning to Hong Kong once again, shared that his previous visits to Hong Kong with the team were mostly for work and football matches, leaving few opportunities to explore the city or enjoy its cuisine, while, he can take in the city's scenery this time and discover the treasures of the city, "I've never been to the Peak before so it's good to see it, it's been so amazing, it's good." He also praised Hong Kong's cuisine, "The food is lovely in lunch time, we had roasted groose, which was a traditional dish, it's really nice." Ferdinand said he enjoys the hustle and bustle of the city and hopes to try more local snacks and street food.

"The Victoria Peak is a must for visitors coming to Hong Kong. This is really something that you don't see anywhere else in the world. I heard about Hong Kong's beautiful beaches and mountains and hope to explore it on a future visit; I'd like my family to come over because this is really something they have to see." said Marian Otamendi.

Organised by WFS and ASIA PARTNERS IFBD Limited (IP owner of CR7® LIFE Museum and CR7® LIFE stores), with the support of The Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) and the active participation of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the event reinforces Hong Kong's status as a world-class destination for major sports events.

"This event is a powerful declaration of Hong Kong's global standing in sports, culture, and business," added Filipe Gonçalves from ASIA PARTNERS IFBD Limited. "With the invaluable support of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and The Football Association of Hong Kong, China, we are not merely staging a conference; we are actively building a lasting legacy that harnesses the unique power of football to unite communities and unlock global opportunities right here in Asia."

CHP urges public to promptly receive seasonal influenza vaccination as another severe paediatric influenza infection case reported

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 18) recorded a severe paediatric influenza infection case. The CHP again reminded parents to arrange for their children to receive a free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) promptly. The SIV remains one of the most effective methods of preventing influenza and its complications, and can reduce the risk of serious complications or death from infection.

The case involves a 14-year-old boy with underlying illness. He developed a fever, shortness of breath and productive cough since January 16. He sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on January 17 and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit for further management on the same day. He is currently in critical condition. His respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis is influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia and septic shock.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the boy received the 2025/26 SIV only three days before onset of illness. As it generally takes two weeks for the body to develop sufficient protection after vaccination, the boy was not protected by the vaccine. Therefore, it is not counted as being vaccinated. The boy had no travel history during the incubation period. Two of his household contacts developed mild respiratory symptoms earlier. The nasal swab sample of one of the household contacts tested positive for influenza A virus via rapid antigen test. The symptoms were mild and hospitalisation was not required.

The summer influenza season just ended had recorded 25 severe paediatric influenza cases, including three fatal cases. The affected children were aged between 6 months to 17 years old. Among them, 20 cases (80 per cent) had not received an SIV (including one case who received the 2025/26 SIV only four days before onset of illness).

"The summer influenza season was ended. However, influenza activity may rise again as the weather remains cold in the first quarter of this year and it cannot be ruled out that the circulating virus strains may change as the winter influenza season approaches. Therefore, I once again urge all individuals aged 6 months or older, except those with known contraindications, to act promptly if they have not yet received an SIV. This includes those who contracted influenza during the summer influenza season in order to guard against other circulating virus strains that may emerge during the upcoming winter influenza season. Furthermore, although there are some antigenic differences between the currently circulating influenza A (H3) virus strain and the virus strain contained in the vaccine, scientific research indicates that this season's influenza vaccines can still offer protection against the variant strain of subclade K, as well as the influenza A (H1) and influenza B strains included in the vaccine," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

"Although the influenza activity has declined to below the baseline level at the moment, outbreaks caused by influenza viruses still occurred in schools and residential care homes. For children who did not join the SIV School Outreach Programme, parents should promptly bring their children toprivate doctorsenrolled in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme to receive an SIV. In addition, the SIV coverage rate for children aged 6 months to under 2 years is only about 23 per cent. Although this represents an approximate 4 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year, it is still much lower than that of other age groups. Through the Primary Healthcare Commission, the CHP has urged family doctors to assist in encouraging parents to allow their children to receive an SIV," Dr Tsui added.

He also reminded members of the public that, especially for children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, they should seek medical advice promptly for early treatment if they present with fever and respiratory symptoms. As children with influenza can deteriorate rapidly, parents must pay close attention to their children's condition. They should go to an Accident and Emergency Department immediately if the child's condition deteriorates, for example, if they develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, a persistent fever or convulsions.

Separately, high-risk individuals should wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should also consider whether to attend work or school.

In addition to issuing timely reminders to healthcare professionals and schools based on the latest seasonal influenza development, the CHP also uploads the latest seasonal influenza information on its website weekly. Members of the public can visit the CHP'sseasonal influenzaandCOVID-19 & Flu Expresswebpages.

Source: AI-found images