Wrexham AFC to Headline as HKFC Soccer Sevens Women's Tournament Launches International Era
The 2025 HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens will break new ground by welcoming Welsh outfit Wrexham AFC Women, Thailand's Chonburi FC Women and Eastern Thunder from Singapore as the first overseas women's teams at the Sports Road-hosted event. One year after the hugely successful launch of the Women's Tournament, the trio will feature in a six-team line-up battling to claim the 2025 edition of the title from 16- 18 May.
"We are thrilled to confirm that Wrexham AFC Women, Chonburi FC Women and Eastern Thunder will be travelling to Hong Kong to play in the Women's Tournament at the 2025 HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens," says Scott Semple, Chairman of the HKFC Soccer Sevens Organising Committee.
"Last year's inaugural event was a huge success and it gives us great pleasure to be able to build on that momentum by taking the competition to the next level. "Having the involvement of women's teams from outside Hong Kong and Macau adds another element to the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens and underlines the strong international reputation of the competition as a whole and the Hong Kong Football Club."
Wrexham, who finished fourth in Wales' Adran Premier division last season, will bring Hollywood star power to the event with the club now generating international attention following the arrival of new owners, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, in 2020.
"We are excited to be entering a women's team into the HKFC Soccer Sevens tournament for the first time," says Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson. "To be invited to the long-standing and successful tournament is a mark of our credibility, and will provide a fantastic opportunity for our young players.
"As well as the opportunity to play in Asia for the very first time as a club, the tournament also provides fast-paced football and high-level opposition to test the players at the end of what has been another successful season on the pitch for our women's section, at both first-team and Under-19s level.
"We're looking forward to taking our place at the HKFC Soccer Sevens in May."
Chonburi FC Women will be making their first appearance and travel to Hong Kong having twice won the Thai Women's League 1, the highest-level women's competition in their home nation, while Eastern Thunder feature in Singapore's Women's National League. Chelsea FC Soccer School, who will return for the 2025 edition under their new name TSL FC, won the Women's Tournament last year, defeating Kitchee SC 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the final ended in a 0-0 draw.
Kitchee SC will be looking to go one step further this year, with the Women's Tournament line-up completed by Hong Kong Football Club. Also boosting the profile of the event at Hong Kong Football Club will be Liverpool and Scotland legend Graeme Souness, who will be the guest speaker at the Sportsmans' Dinner on May 15.
The former midfielder, manager and Sky Sports pundit is renowned for his straight talking and unvarnished view of the game, guaranteeing an evening of entertaining insights and opinion.
Meanwhile, last year's runners-up Singapore Football Club Masters return for the Masters Event, where they will be joined by former winners Wallsend Boys Club HK and Ampcontrol Discovery Bay. HKFC Masters, HKFC Chairman's Select, the Yau Yee League All Stars, Singapore Cricket Club and KCC Vets will complete the eight-team line-up for the competition.
The draw for this year's event will take place at the Hong Kong Football Club on 9th April.
The action begins with the Masters Tournament and Women's Tournament on 16th May, followed by the Main Men's Event on 17th May. All competitions run until 18th May.