For his 64th birthday on June 22, Hong Kong filmmaker and former actor Stephen Chow announced the planned release date for his upcoming film Kung Fu Soccer (功夫女足), which he wrote and directed. In a short promo clip he posted on social media, a voice asks when the movie will be released. Chow reveals that the film is currently in the final stages of post-production, adding that the team is working hard to meet the target release date of July 10, 2026, though it may be delayed to July 17, 2026. When asked what happens if they still don’t make it in time, he confidently replies that it will be released one day. UPDATE: Kung Fu Soccer has confirmed its official release date of July 11, 2026.
Kung Fu Soccer Cast and Plot
Kung Fu Soccer is considered to be a spin-off sequel to the 2001 classic Shaolin Soccer, marking Stephen Chow’s return to directing a kung fu–soccer themed movie after 25 years. The legendary comedic actor, who now works mainly behind the scenes, continues to bring the same artistic flair to his projects. This also marks his first film in seven years since he produced The New King of Comedy in 2019.
The film follows a women’s football team called the “Emei Team,” who incorporate kung fu techniques into soccer as they compete in women’s championships. The project took three years to prepare, beginning with the script announcement and global casting in 2023, followed by filming in 2025.
It is led by a star-studded cast with Zhang Xiaofei as team captain “Shuangshuang,” Lay Zhang as kung fu coach “Xu Feng,” and Dilraba Dilmurat as forward No. 8 “Yulong.” South Korean award-winning actor Song Kang-ho makes a cameo as a referee. Former Chinese women’s national team players Zhao Lina and Li Jiayue appear as themselves and also serve as technical advisors. Other cast members include Xu Jiao, Lin Yun, and Ashton Chen (Shi Xiaolong).
