Photo: AVFC Website
This summer, Hong Kong is set to host a blockbuster match between two grand old teams, Aston Villa and Bayern München. The much anticipated “Audi Football Summit 2026” will be held this coming August 7th at Kai Tak Stadium.
The legendary, Alan McInally, is one player who has managed to pull on the shirt for and grace both teams. Mclnally was in Hong Kong along with Stefan Effenberg, the former midfield maestro, to help promote the mouthwatering tie in what will be an epic summer of football in Hong Kong.
The fact that both Villa (Europa League) and Bayern München (Champions league) could win their respective competitions would mean the tussle in Hong Kong could be a preview to the UEFA Super Cup.
The two teams, by destiny and fate, are forever linked by the 1982 European Cup final. The late Gary Shaw, who came to HK to play for Ernest Borel, was also in that famed Villa team.
Villa won the match through a Peter Withe goal. Since then, any match between the two sides, has become a journey down memory lane especially for Villa fans as this remains their greatest moment in history.
Mclnally kindly took the time to have a quick chat about the upcoming match and what makes Unai Emery, the current Aston Villa manager, tick and how the master tactician has transformed the ‘Claret and Blue’ for the better.
Mclnally first discussed the global appeal of Aston Villa around the world and the last time he was in Hong Kong.
“I was last in Hong Kong a long time ago and then 15 years ago. I haven’t been since then, so it’s been a little bit of time.
You can go right back to the history, the history of the football club. We were 150 years old last year and we won the Champions League in 1982. We have also won the league and the cup competitions. Aston Villa has a global footprint in the world. Yes, you’ve got Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and all the other teams and Aston Villa stand head in head with them.
I’m not surprised that we have so many fans here in Hong Kong and in Asia. Villa have tried to stretch, to make sure we get to play in places that normally you wouldn’t be able to see us. I think that’s why we’ve got lots of fans around the world; And of course, we’re a good club. We’re a good team, but more importantly, we’re a big European club now, and we’re only getting stronger. We hope to build the fan base in Hong Kong even bigger!”
Unai Emery has transformed the culture of the club from the top down and all staff have a vested sense of responsibility for the success of the club.
“Another word I can think of, let’s just say Emery is calm and he’s also intense. I think in genuine terms, he has changed the players’ attitude and the people that work at the football club’s attitude about us being a bigger team, about thinking we’re a bigger team and we should be on the top stage. That’s a hard thing sometimes for players to get through from the manager, but I’ve got to say, he’s done it fantastically well and it’s working!
You know, it looks as though we’re going to be in the Champions League, fingers crossed, next year. We are in the Europa league semi-finals as well!
We are coming to Hong Kong to play. It has been a really, really good two or three years, but the manager has certainly changed a lot of attitude towards the football club, and rightly so! He’s done a fantastic job!”
Thank you.
Two teams, forever intertwined to that fateful night in Rotterdam in 1982, will continue their decades long rivalry in Hong Kong.
Pride is at stake for these two grand old rivals and HK will no doubt witness history.
Match Details
This historic clash between FC Bayern München and Aston Villa FC is set to take place on Friday, August 7, 2026 – Kai Tak Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00 PM local time.
Priority booking will launch exclusively on April 28 via Trip.com and Klook. General public sales will follow on May 14 through HK Ticketing, with ticket prices ranging from $388 to $2,688.
