Football in Hong Kong - Cup Competitions

Cup Competitions

There are several cup competitions for clubs at different levels of the football pyramid. The most important cup competition is the Senior Challenge Shield, with the winners of those competitions qualifying for the AFC Cup.

• The Senior Challenge Shield, established in 1896, is the oldest football knockout inter-club competition in Asia. Usually only the teams in First Division would enter into the competition. However, sometimes teams in lower divisions (usually the champion of Junior Shield) are invited to increase the number of participating teams.

• The FA Cup, established in 1974, is Hong Kong's second major cup competition. It was contested by clubs competing in First Division, Second Division and Third Division. Since 1981, the cup has been limited to top flight teams due to the huge difference in playing level between the First Division and the inferior levels below it.

• The Junior Challenger Shield, established in 1922, is the major cup for clubs playing in levels 2–4 of the football pyramid.

There have also been a number of other cup competitions which are no longer run:

• The League Cup(2000–2009, 2010–2012) is an annual football competition contested by clubs in the First Division League. It was being discontinued in the 2009-10 season but was relaunched for the 2010-11 season. However, the cup is discontinued again in the 2012-13 season.

• The Community Shield (2009–2010) is a single match played each August between the winners and first runners-up of the previous season's First Division League.

• The Viceroy Cup (1969–98) was the first footabll competition in Hong Kong which allowed business sponsorship.