Biggest-ever Guangdong City Football Super League kicks off

Kicking off in Guangzhou on Saturday, the 2026 Guangdong City Football Super League marks a historic milestone as the first amateur event to unite teams from all 21 cities in the province, including Shenzhen. Designed to become a flagship grassroots football brand in China, the league promises innovative gameplay and an accessible viewing experience for fans. The competition features 826 non-professional players. University students make up 41% of the participants, with the remainder comprising freelancers, members of football academies, and employees from various enterprises and institutions. Spanning approximately six months, the 123 matches will be held on weekends across multiple cities. The knockout stage is set to begin in late August and the final in late October.

Fans cheer at the opening game of the 2026 Guangdong City Football Super League between Guangzhou and Jiangmen at Yuexiushan Stadium in Guangzhou on Saturday. Around 12,000 fans watched the match, which Guangzhou won 2-0. China News Service