A full and passionate crowd is expected at the Kai Tak Stadium on October 14, as the Hong Kong football team prepares for its highly-anticipated Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh.
The match is set to be a major event, with all general admission tickets selling out in approximately an hour and a half following their release to the public.
Tickets for the crucial qualifier went on sale online at 11am on Thursday under a real-name registration system, with prices starting from HK$80.
Demand was immense from the very start. Our reporter attempting to purchase tickets found over 23,000 people already in a virtual queue just half an hour after sales began, facing an estimated waiting time of more than an hour.
By 12.35pm, the initial rush had concluded, with the official ticketing website displaying that all standard-priced tickets had been completely sold out. A limited number of tickets for wheelchair users and their companions were still available.
The upcoming match marks the senior team's second fixture at the new Kai Tak pitch. Their debut in June was a historic and memorable occasion, where 42,570 fans witnessed Stephan Pereira score a last-gasp penalty to secure a dramatic victory over India.
After their away trip to Dhaka, the team's return to what promises to be another electrifying home atmosphere has generated significant excitement among the city's football supporters.
Marco Lam (marco.lam@singtaonewscorp.com)
