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Fifa World Cup 2022
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Hong Kong’s World Cup qualifier against Iran will go ahead at the So Kon Po venue as scheduled. Photo: Winson Wong

Hong Kong-Iran World Cup match gets Fifa go-ahead following formal complaint from visitors

  • The visitors requested to move the World Cup qualifying game to a neutral ground because of social unrest in the city
  • Governing body rejects the move and the match will take place at So Kon Po venue on Tuesday as scheduled
Hong Kong’s home game against Iran in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers will go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday.
The Iranian football association was reported to have requested the match be played at a neutral venue, citing safety concerns arising from the political unrest in the city.

However, the Iranian consulate general in Hong Kong posted a message on its social media account on Wednesday night, saying: “Let’s enjoy the Football match: Iran vs. Hong Kong. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 Hong Kong Stadium”. Pictures of the two teams have also been posted.

It is believed the Iran team have already arrived in preparation for the game at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po.

Image: Facebook
The Asian zone group C match is the second qualifier for Hong Kong, coming five days after Thursday’s opener against Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Thursday.
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced earlier this week that it had appealed for the match to be played on neutral ground and that request was under review.
The Hong Kong Football Association sent an updated assessment report on Hong Kong’s situation to the Asian Football Confederation on Tuesday and it is believed approval has been given by the regional governing body. A formal announcement is expected from the association later on Thursday.

The visitors, who rank number one in Asia, are the hot favourites to win the group, which also features Iraq and Bahrain.

Although Iran will be without one of their top players, Saman Ghoddos, for the Hong Kong match, they are still likely to open their account with a victory in the group after a bye in the opening round this week.

Sweden-born forward Ghoddos, who played for the Scandinavian country in friendlies before representing Iran at the 2018 World Cup finals, was suspended from all games by Fifa for four months over a questionable club transfer deal.

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