Hong Kong could host Myanmar in first home international since 2019 – if government okays ‘closed loop’
- After no home game for Hong Kong men’s team since before the Covid-19 pandemic, plans are afoot for Myanmar to visit in September
- Myanmar would stay in bubble to avoid need for quarantine if plans win government approval – and match at Hong Kong Stadium could feature fans
Hong Kong could stage its first international match on home turf in almost three years if a plan to invite Myanmar for a friendly in September is approved.
The match would help the Hong Kong team to prepare for next year’s Asian Cup after they made it through the qualifying stage in India in June to secure a berth in the finals – their first since 1968.
The Hong Kong Football Association is in negotiations about the fixture with the Southeast Asian nation, aiming to reach an agreement later this week.
However, the football body still needs government approval for a quarantine exemption to allow the Myanmar squad and officials to visit in a “closed loop” format, with Hong Kong’s Covid-19 border restrictions still in place.
All inbound travellers are required by government to complete a period of quarantine – currently three days in a hotel and four further days of monitoring.