Football in Hong Kong

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Hong Kong.

The first football competition of Hong Kong is the Challenge Shield, which founded in 1898. Its format is similar to the FA Challenge Cup in England. The first football club of Hong Kong is Hong Kong Football Club, usually known as The Club, founded in 1886. The Club is one of the oldest existing football clubs in Asia. Hong Kong Football League was founded in 1908. The governing body of Hong Kong football, The Hong Kong Football Association was founded in 1914.

In the 1970s and 1980s, football in Hong Kong was strong and popular, with competitive local teams boosted by well known overseas players and managers, playing in front crowds of tens of thousands.

In 1985, in a famous match, Hong Kong overcame favourites China, 2-1, in Beijing, to move towards a place in the 1986 World Cup, though ultimately it was not to be.

The Hong Kong First Division League, founded in 1908, was the first professional football league in Asia. It is currently the top division football league in Hong Kong. The First Division League is contested between 10 teams in the recent seasons, but will be contested between 12 teams starting from the 2013–14 season. For the 2012–13 season, the bottom club is relegated to the Hong Kong Second Division League, while three top clubs of Second Division League is promoted.

Lower division leagues are formed by Second Division League, Third Division League and Fourth Division League. Most of the teams are semi-professional, or even amateur.

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