Football match brings Chinese and U.S. student teams together in Hainan

(ECNS) -- A youth team from South China's Hainan Province faced off against a U.S. college team Thursday in Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County, highlighting sports and cultural exchange.  

The match was part of Journey FC’s overseas tour, with 20 university players from Pennsylvania visiting China for the first time. The U.S. team played friendlies in three cities in Hainan.

Players and spectators greet each other after a friendly match between Qiongzhong’s football team and a U.S. college team in Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan Province, August 6, 2026. (Photo: China News Service/ Wang Xiaobin)

Qiongzhong’s youth team took a 2-0 lead in the first half and held off a second-half comeback to secure the win. The home side recently finished runner up in the 2026 Hainan City Football League.

After the match, players from both sides exchanged jerseys and souvenirs and took photos together. The audience later sang Li ethnic folk songs to welcome the visiting team.

Journey FC captain Rotman Saltos-Moyano said he was surprised by the atmosphere at the match, adding that the team hoped to return for future games.

（By Helen Mo, intern Liu Shuangjing)