Lionel Messi, Inter Miami to play preseason game in Hong Kong as part of Asia tour

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will travel to Asia for an international preseason tour in February, the club announced on Thursday night. The first confirmed game will be in Hong Kong Feb. 4 against Hong Kong Team, a collection of the best players from the Hong Kong league.

Other games are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The club had already announced that it will open its 2024 preseason schedule with a road game against El Salvador’s national team in San Salvador.

A trip to China had been planned for November, shortly after Inter Miami was eliminated from the MLS playoffs, but it was canceled.

“We’re very excited to be visiting Hong Kong and indeed Asia for the very first time,” said Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas. “From the very beginning we set out to be a global club at Inter Miami. This is a wonderful opportunity to do just that; we hope to enthuse and inspire new Inter Miami fans in Hong Kong and across Asia who share our passion for fútbol.”

“Hong Kong is a beautiful city with a great sports scene,” added Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham. “Throughout my career, I have spent a lot of time in Asia - I am so pleased to have the opportunity to bring Inter Miami to play our first international tour match in this fantastic city.”

The match will be hosted at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday.

“We’re looking forward to this tour as a special experience for our club, and also as an important opportunity to prepare the team as best as possible for the 2024 season,” said sporting director Chris Henderson. “This match will offer our players chances to face new opponents on the field and compete in new environments.”

“I spent several years living and working in Hong Kong, so I am familiar with the incredible culture and the deep passion for fútbol. We are looking forward to bringing Inter Miami to play in front of these special fans who otherwise may not have been able to see us in person,” said chief business officer Xavier Asensi.

Tickets go on sale Dec. 15, exclusively on Klook, the ticket partner for the event. Tickets will also be available for an open training session on Feb. 3 at Hong Kong Stadium.

Further information on the matches, including broadcast and kickoff time details, will be announced at a later date.