Sichuan Football City League to kick off Sept. 20

(ECNS) -- The Sichuan Football City League will kick off Sept. 20 and run through July 2026. Also known as the "Chuan Super League," it will feature 162 matches across 28 rounds in a format combining zonal play and a final.

Teams are divided into four zones: eastern, western, southern and northern Sichuan. Except for Chengdu, the other 20 city teams have already qualified. The Chengdu Football Association issued a recruitment notice Friday, drawing more than 300 sign-ups so far.

Local football leagues are increasingly boosting China's economy. The "Su Super League," officially the Jiangsu City Football League, has drawn tourists across Jiangsu Province, benefiting the local tourism industry. In 2023, the Guizhou Village Super League, or Cun Chao, became a national sensation, attracting audiences from more than 20 countries and generating more than 250 million yuan ($34.9 million) in tourism revenue, according to Xinhua.

(By Zhang Dongfang)