The Wellington Phoenix will contest the ‘Capital Cup’ in Beijing in July as part of its 2016 pre-season.

The match further strengthens the Phoenix’s connections in the region, adding to the incredibly successful annual Hong Kong Soccer Sevens tournament the Club participates in each year and its partnership with telecommunications gaint Huawei.

An initiative between Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun, the first ever match in the Capital Cup will take place on July 27 when the Wellington Phoenix will play Beijing BG at the Olympic Sports Stadium on Wednesday July 27 to mark 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said the match further strengthens the friendship that exists between the two capitals.

‘’Beijing is a very important sister city to Wellington on a number of fronts – culturally, commercially and now in sport. This visibility will help attract more international students to the capital.

“I raised the Capital Cup idea with Mayor Anshun and he responded enthusiastically when I was last in Beijing in September 2015. We agreed that this will be an annual event between the two capitals. I am looking forward to being in Beijing for the first of many Capital Cup matches between the two cities.”

Phoenix General Manager David Dome said the Phoenix was committed to the business of football.

‘’This tour is about winning the Capital Cup for the city and forming an important pre-season plan.

‘’China is an increasingly important part of the world for commerce and for football. In consultation with the city council, we will be taking a delegation with us for football and business purposes.

“We will be using football to help Wellington and New Zealand forge closer relations with an incredibly important international partner.’’