Hong Kong Women’s Football Team Returns Home After Dubai Stranding
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong women’s national football team is back on home soil after a tense few days stranded in Dubai, following escalating regional tensions sparked by recent US-Israel attacks on Iran. The team arrived Friday night, expressing both relief and disappointment after being forced to withdraw from the Pink Ladies Cup 2026 tournament.
Twenty-seven players and staff landed in Hong Kong via a transit stop in Bangkok. The team’s journey home wasn’t uniform, however, with one player continuing on to Boston, Massachusetts, and another scheduled to depart Dubai for Manchester, England, on Saturday.
The unexpected disruption occurred as the team prepared to compete in the Dubai tournament. Captain Ma Chak-shun described the rapidly changing situation in Dubai as unsettling.
“Everyone, including the players, coaches and staff, is really happy to be back,” Ma said. “In Dubai, things changed very quickly and information kept shifting, but we received a lot of support from different people and departments. We are very grateful to be home safely.”
Ma, who celebrated her 30th birthday while stuck in Dubai, called the experience both unforgettable and unsettling. The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) made the decision to pull the team from the Pink Ladies Cup amid growing regional instability.
The incident highlights the broader impact of geopolitical events on international sporting events. While the team’s return is a relief, their withdrawal from the tournament underscores the challenges faced by athletes and organizers navigating an increasingly volatile global landscape.