Bayern in Hong Kong arrived with fanfare at the Audi Football Summit 2026, when Bayern Munich and Aston Villa staged a preseason friendly at Kai Tak Arena and adidas ran youth clinics and fan events across the city.
Diocesan Boys’ School hosted an adidas youth exchange that paired local players with former professionals and current academy talent. Bayern legend Giovane Élber and Aston Villa veteran Ahmed Elmohamady joined Bayern global youth program goalkeeper Matéo Wong (王庭樂) and Eastern defender Lee Yik-kai (李毅凱) for on-field coaching and drills, adidas said.
The two veterans worked through technical details under a hot sky, then supervised a team scrimmage. Players were split into a red team led by Élber, and a white team led by Elmohamady and Lee; Matéo Wong took the field as the red team goalkeeper. Coaches and visiting players shouted encouragement from the sidelines as the match reached its final minutes.
Elmohamady and Lee both donned protective goalkeeper shirts late in the practice to demonstrate techniques, then signed autographs and answered questions for students and parents after the session, the school and adidas said.
Asked about training with younger players, Élber said, “Playing with young players is the most joyful thing, because they smile when they see the ball. Even in hot weather everyone gave full focus, and I really enjoyed it.” Elmohamady urged persistence and focus, saying family support matters most. He also praised Asian football progress, noting more players from the region now move to European leagues.
Matéo Wong, who has trained in Germany, told attendees, “Great success takes time, but it also requires action. Success will not come from staying in a comfort zone or daydreaming, it comes from stepping out and doing what others will not.” Lee said he hopes more overseas clubs partner with Hong Kong academies so young players can learn different football cultures and accelerate their development.
adidas fan event draws crowds in Tsim Sha Tsui
On the eve of the match, adidas hosted a Bayern Munich meet-and-greet at its Tsim Sha Tsui flagship store. The appearance included head coach Vincent Kompany, captain Manuel Neuer, winger Luis Díaz, and defender Josip Stanišić, adidas said.
Organizers said the event drew hundreds of fans, who filled the sidewalk outside the store to greet the team. The players entered wearing the club’s 2026/27 season home and away jerseys and joined supporters for photos.
At the event, Bayern presented the Bundesliga trophy and the German Cup for fans to see. Supporters sang “FC Bayern, Forever Number One,” while adidas unveiled a limited run jersey inspired by a dragon motif, a design the brand said celebrates the club’s return to Hong Kong.
adidas commissioned Hong Kong cartoonist Man僧 to draw a group portrait of the four attendees in a local comic style. The players signed the artwork, which is now on display at the Tsim Sha Tsui store for fans to photograph, adidas said.
Kompany said the Bayern motto “Mia San Mia” stands for confidence, unity, and a pursuit of excellence, values he said align with adidas’s “You Got This” campaign. Neuer emphasized communication with the back line and staying present while on the pitch. Díaz, visiting Hong Kong for a second consecutive year, told fans he remembered their energy from last time and hopes for an exciting match at Kai Tak Arena.
Bayern in Hong Kong, adidas, and local partners said the series of events was intended to connect global stars with grassroots players and to give fans a close-up experience ahead of the Audi Football Summit 2026 match. The friendly at Kai Tak Arena is scheduled as part of the teams’ preseason programs, organizers said.
Tickets and match details were posted by the Audi Football Summit organizers and on the clubs’ official channels, adidas said. Fans unable to attend in person were directed to the clubs’ social channels for highlights and behind-the-scenes content.
