​City head to Asia for a pre-season tour ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The team will begin in Hong Kong, taking on Italian champions Inter at 12:30 (UK) on Saturday 1 August. Following that, we travel to Seoul to face a K League All-Stars XI at 12:00 (UK) on Wednesday 5 August, before meeting Atletico Madrid at the same 12:00 (UK) kick-off on Sunday 9 August. All three tour matches in Asia will be available to watch with a CITY+ subscription.
Over the years, City have welcomed a number of players from the Asian continent, including several familiar names and current favourites who feature in this tour wrap. One of China’s greatest ever footballers, Sun Jihai, remains a cult figure at City for his tireless running and unwavering commitment. The full-back made 151 appearances for the club between 2002 and 2008 and became the first East Asian player to score in the Premier League when he headed home against Birmingham City in October 2002. Jihai’s enduring popularity in Manchester sealed his status as a fan favourite through his final season with the club.
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Another Israeli star who left a lasting impression is Berkovic, a creative midfielder who thrived under Kevin Keegan’s entertainers during City’s 2001/02 Division One title-winning campaign. His partnership with Ali Benarbia created countless chances for Shaun Goater to convert. Berkovic made 67 appearances for City from 2001 to 2003, scoring nine goals. Ben Haim, also from Israel, featured 15 times in 2008/09 before a loan to Sunderland in the second half of the season and a subsequent move to Portsmouth the following summer.
A January 2025 signing, the Uzbek international has quickly become a standout for his pace, power, and intelligent defending. Having joined midway through the season, he has already made nine appearances and is expected to build on his early impact, likely becoming a key figure for Pep Guardiola’s squad as the tour progresses. In a wider sense, he is viewed as a winger or attacking midfielder who adds width and dynamism to the team.
From the Middle East, Hussein’s background includes a spell with the Qatar national team between 2001 and 2011, during which he managed one appearance for City in a League Cup match against Doncaster Rovers in September 2005. His time at City adds to a diverse tapestry of Asian influence within the squad.
Our Barclays Women’s Super League champions boast an impressive Japanese presence, with Yui Hasegawa, Ayaka Yamashita, and Aoba Fujino among the notable players. They are part of a broader history of Asian representation for City Women, which also includes Korean international Lee Geum-min, who appeared for the team in 2019.
To catch all three matches during our 2026 pre-season tour of Asia, subscribe to CITY+. The program will stream all three fixtures, starting in Hong Kong against Inter on Saturday 1 August at 12:30 (UK). The tour then heads to Seoul for a 12:00 (UK) kickoff on Wednesday 5 August against a K League All-Stars XI, followed by a meeting with Atletico Madrid at the same kick-off time on Sunday 9 August.