https://www.scmp.com/rss/523307/feed The latest news and top stories on N’Golo Kante, a defensive midfielders for the Saudi Pro League football club Al-Ittihad, having previously starred for Leicester City and Chelsea. He played for the teams that won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters Saudi Pro League (SPL) champions Al-Ittihad will look to push their domestic difficulties and the exodus of key players to one side to assert themselves in the Asian Champion League Elite when Sergio Conceicao’s team take on Qatar’s Al-Gharafa on Tuesday. The Jeddah-based outfit have been less than convincing since claiming the SPL title last season, sitting in seventh in the domestic standings and currently attempting to regroup after the departures of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3342818/pressure-builds-saudi-champs-al-ittihad-hunt-asian-champions-league-spots-resumes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3342818/pressure-builds-saudi-champs-al-ittihad-hunt-asian-champions-league-spots-resumes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:00:35 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Former English Premier League stars could make the difference in the Asian Champions League, which begins on Monday, with Ivan Toney, Jesse Lingard, Riyad Mahrez and Darwin Nunez all having a chance of winning Asian football’s premier club tournament. Saudi clubs dominated last season, providing three of the semi-finalists before Al-Ahli won the final in front of 60,000 spectators in Jeddah in May. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are also back and expected to challenge again for the title. Since the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325379/asian-champions-league-ex-english-premier-league-players-set-star-new-season-starts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325379/asian-champions-league-ex-english-premier-league-players-set-star-new-season-starts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:00:20 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification It is evident that Hong Kong has enjoyed some incredible football moments this year. Last year, the entire city was abuzz with the prospect of watching Lionel Messi and his team Inter Miami,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324133/after-showcasing-football-stars-hong-kong-must-focus-local-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324133/after-showcasing-football-stars-hong-kong-must-focus-local-game?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:30:07 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong is this week playing host to the Saudi Super Cup, which is why Cristiano Ronaldo is in town. The tournament has been running annually since 2013 but this is the third edition of its four-team format. It brings together the winners and runners-up from the Saudi Pro League and the country’s King's Cup in a mini-tournament, comprising two semi-finals and a final at Hong Kong Stadium. Hong Kong is its third overseas host city after London – three times – and Abu Dhabi. Al-Nassr will play... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322374/saudi-super-cup-cristiano-ronaldos-hong-kong-who-else-coming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322374/saudi-super-cup-cristiano-ronaldos-hong-kong-who-else-coming?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:47:58 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hosting the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong denoted a “strengthening of the ties” with the desert kingdom, and reflected the city’s growing status as a world-class sporting hub, local football chief Eric Fok Kai-shan said on Wednesday. Speaking at the official launch of next month’s tournament – which, with Kai Tak Stadium unavailable, will be held at Hong Kong Stadium – Fok called it an “opportunity to showcase our city’s energy, hospitality and passion for football”. It will mark the first time... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317589/hong-kong-hosting-saudi-super-cup-shows-deepening-ties-football-chief-fok-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317589/hong-kong-hosting-saudi-super-cup-shows-deepening-ties-football-chief-fok-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:33:44 +0000