Juventus arrived in Hong Kong from a long way away. From Turin, certainly. From a long and successful history, deeply tied to the city that shaped it: the Agnelli family, Fiat, generations of victories and identity. But Juventus has always belonged to something wider too: shirts seen on screens, old photographs travelling across the world, conversations between supporters who may never have set foot in Italy but know the story of the club almost by heart. It is a team close to Turin and, at the same time, far beyond it. Followed, debated and loved by people who have never truly stood beside it. A club can begin in one place and find its way into many others. Hong Kong is one of those places.
Here, Europe’s biggest clubs often arrive during the summer, preparing for the season ahead and meeting supporters who normally experience football from a distance. But distance does not explain everything. There are fan clubs, academies, shirts worn across the city, people who have built a connection with a team they have rarely seen in person. The ground is far away. The relationship is not.
Juventus returned to Hong Kong after ten years. The victory over Chelsea at Kai Tak Stadium was the most visible part of the visit, the one that appeared in newspapers and across social media. But the trip itself went beyond the match: another step in a relationship with Greater China that the club has developed over years through games, events and local initiatives.
According to figures shared by the club, almost 50 per cent of Juventus’ global fanbase is located in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one reason Hong Kong has become an important stop on the tour: a city where Juventus can meet a significant part of its international following. “Juventus’ objective is to be a co-creator of value in the region,” the club said. “We use Juventus’ global influence and regional resources to build unique platforms.”
On 3 August, the team left Turin-Caselle airport for Hong Kong. Manuel Locatelli, Michele Di Gregorio and Francisco Conceição were among those making the journey, together with the rest of the squad preparing for the new season. Away from the pitch, however, there was another side to the visit. On the evening of their arrival, some supporters met Lilian Thuram. For many, he was a familiar and much-loved figure: one of the faces of a Juventus discovered through images, videos and stories. The following day, the team attended the “Bianconeri Stripes Party” at OZONE, the rooftop bar of the Ritz-Carlton. With Hong Kong’s skyline in front of them, Juventus’ black and white appeared in a setting far removed from the one where those colours were born. Different city, same shirt. “We have to bring Juventus back where it deserves to be,” Kenan Yildiz said during the event. “We want to give our best.”
Juventus’ presence in Asia did not begin with this visit. Over the years, the club has continued to invest in the region, opening eight academies and creating links with new generations of players and supporters. It is not something that happens quickly. The relationship with Hong Kong has also passed through more difficult moments. In 2020, Juventus closed its official fan club in the city after statements connected to the 2019 anti-government protests led to the group losing its official recognition. Before that, the club’s presence in the region had grown gradually. Between 2008 and 2019, Juventus played six matches in Greater China, visiting Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing and Nanjing. Today, around 34 Juventus Official Fan Clubs are present in the area, with more than 1,200 members. Behind those numbers are supporters who chose a team born thousands of kilometres away.
On 5 August, Juventus took part in “Play with Juve”, an initiative dedicated to grassroots football and the local community, involving students, influencers and organisations from the territory. Then came the match. At Kai Tak Stadium, in front of more than 43,500 spectators, Juventus faced Chelsea. A few days earlier, Inter had played Manchester City in a match decided on penalties. Hong Kong has spent years looking for a more permanent place on the international football map. These games are part of that search. The players also spoke about the city. During a private tea tasting organised alongside these summer friendlies, Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City winger and Ghana international, spoke positively about his experience in Hong Kong and the facilities at Kai Tak Stadium. “It was incredible,” he said. “I’ve seen so many teams come here on tour every summer. They have always spoken very highly of this place.”
Hong Kong had already drawn the attention of the football world before this summer. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur played the first North London derby ever held outside the United Kingdom, while Liverpool faced Milan in another major fixture, two matches that brought around 100,000 spectators. Juventus will return to Turin with a victory and a new set of images for its archive. In Hong Kong, the black and white shirt will remain in the city’s memory: another reminder that some clubs travel further than their own geography suggests.