Everton: We wrote a new history for Hong Kong

Goalscorers Everton Camargo and Matt Orr, along with Oliver Gerbig, react after Hong Kong won the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup.

It was a chant that, in the long history of Hong Kong football, fans had seldom had reason to sing.

The echoing chorus of ‘campeon, campeon, ole, ole, ole’ started ringing out with a good ten minutes to play as Hong Kong, China downed Cambodia 2-0 to win the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup™.

It was a tune that wasn’t missed by the players in red and white, who wrote arguably one of the finest chapters in the city’s football history, as defender Oliver Gerbig explained to FIFA post-match.

Hong Kong, China v Cambodia | FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup | Final | FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026™ | HighlightsHong Kong, China v Cambodia | FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup | Final | FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026™ | Highlights

Watch highlights of the match between Hong Kong, China and Cambodia played at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday 3 October at 18:00 (local time).Watch highlights of the match between Hong Kong, China and Cambodia played at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday 3 October at 18:00 (local time).

“Oh, I could definitely hear it. But you know, even starting from like 70 minutes, I didn't want to get ahead of myself because football can change so quickly.

“I just tried to stay focussed and see the game out, but the support of the fans tonight was great. When the Hong Kong fans come, they're so passionate and proud, and it just pushes you the extra mile and it also helps being able to play in this amazing stadium."

Opened just last year, the state-of-the-art venue had the roof closed, but the noise from the 32,000 inside the Kai Tak Stadium almost lifted it off when Matt Orr struck late in the first half, and Everton Camargo early in the second.

Brazilian-born Everton’s personal tale is a remarkable one, given that he only started playing professional football when spotted on holiday in Hong Kong having a kick-about with some friends as a 24-year-old.

More than a decade on, he played a leading role in helping deliver the city its first major piece of silverware and, as he told FIFA, this could be the catalyst for the team to go on to even greater heights.

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Fans are amazing 🥹🥹

有各位嘅支持為球員帶嚟更多嘅動力

#hkrt #港隊

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“It’s such a great moment for Hong Kong, we had the fans behind us, everyone in the team really played their part, and now we have our hands on a trophy.

“I think it’s one of the few trophies that we have won, so tonight we wrote a new history for Hong Kong. Now we have time to celebrate and then we can look ahead to the start of the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.

“It won’t be easy to qualify for 2030 but if we keep working hard, keep raising our levels then it’s possible because I really believe in the future of this team.”

Alongside Everton, forward Orr was another standout performer for Hong Kong. The 29-year-old Shanghai Port striker was on target in each of the team’s three matches and ended as the ASEAN Challenge Cup’s top scorer.

As he told FIFA, things went pretty much as well as they could have, both on a personal and collective level as Hong Kong claimed top honours in a FIFA tournament for the first time.

“It's just an incredible feeling to win a trophy for Hong Kong. A team like us, we probably don't have many opportunities to win trophies, so to win one in an official FIFA tournament for the first time is quite special and a memory that we will carry with us for the rest of our careers.

“Personally, I'm happy because I came here with the sole objective of helping the team to win. Obviously, my goals contributed to that, especially the first one today because I think breaking the deadlock was really important.

“I haven't had time to reflect yet, but I'd say I'm pretty satisfied with my performance and you know I could have had another if didn’t give the penalty to my good friend Everton!”

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@mattorr8 has scored in every single game at Kai Tak!

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Orr too sees the confidence gained from the team finally getting some silverware as being a major spur as this team looks to 2030, and then future generations beyond that.

“We had some heartbreak in failing to qualify for the Asian Cup and we wanted to put that right, to make sure tonight that we didn’t come off the pitch with that same feeling.

“You could see that in the energy we played with and how aggressive we were in our press off the ball, that really showed the personality that this team can play with.

“Given we also lost to Cambodia the last time we faced them, this win and this trophy will give us a lot of confidence going forward.

“The fans are always behind us and we want to make the Kai Tak a real fortress. Overall, it was just a wonderful experience and that means we can go into next year and the start of the World Cup qualifiers with more momentum and confidence.”

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