Soccer Sevens Returns
Reigning champions Newcastle United return to make their long-awaited defence of their HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens title and will take on fellow Premier League outfit Leicester City in the group phase of the 2023 event at Hong Kong Football Club next month.
Newcastle, who defeated Scottish side Rangers in the final when the event was last held in 2019, have also been drawn to face hosts Hong Kong Football Club and the Hong Kong Football Club Captain's Select in Group C of the event, which will be held from May 26-28.
Aston Villa, the tournament's most successful club with six titles to their name, headline Group A and will face Rangers, Tai Po FC and the Yau Yee League Select as the tournament returns for the first time since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is the 21th edition of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens and we are thrilled the tournament is resuming after the challenges brought on by the pandemic over the last three years," said Tony Bratsanos, Chairman of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens Organising Committee.
"To celebrate our return, we have assembled a fantastic line-up in both the Main Event and the Masters Tournament and we can't wait to see the stars of the future in action at the Hong Kong Football Club once more."
Sixteen teams in total will compete for the title in the Main Event, with 10 clubs travelling to Hong Kong for the competition.
Group D will feature Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hong Kong and Singapore Cricket Club with the opening phase of the competition rounded out by Premier League club Fulham, Hong Kong champions Kitchee, MUST CPK, Singapore Football Club meeting in Group B.
The top two finishers in each group will advance to the quarter-finals of the Cup competition, with the losing teams in the last eight stage dropping into the Shield. The bottom two sides in the group phase, meanwhile, will participate in the Plate.
The trophy awarded to the winners of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens Shield competition will be named in memory of the late Sean Browne, who was a regular presence around the event but passed away in July 2021.
The 2023 HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens will also see the Citi All Stars return to challenge champions the Wallsend Boys Club, with the team draw to meet Hong Kong Football Club Masters, Rio Cricket Association Athletic, FPF and Kowloon Cricket Club Veterans in Group B.
Wallsend, a regular participant in the event, won the title for the first time in 2019 and will take on Singapore Cricket Club Masters, Singapore Football Club, Discovery Bay and the HKFC Chairman's Select in Group A.
The Masters Tournament will commence proceedings at Sports Road, with games being played on the Friday evening, before the Main Event kicks off on Saturday. Matches run throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets for the event will be available at zicket.co with free entry for all on Friday May 26 and free entry for children under 16 years old all weekend. Single day tickets cost HKD$120 and weekend passes are HKD$200. Don't miss the opportunity to witness some world-class football at the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens.
© Soccerphile.com