Expansion plans

In Northeast China, a new league, although still in its preparatory phase, has already generated significant anticipation.

The new league, planned to begin in May, is set to bring together eight city teams from across three provinces — Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang — and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Liu Zheng, president of Shenyang Sport University in Liaoning, suggested that the new league integrate soccer with the region's winter activities.

Beyond the regular season from May to October, organizers could consider holding soccer-themed winter carnivals, merging soccer elements with ice-snow tourism to attract more visitors, Liu proposed during a recent legislative session of Liaoning.

Song Kai, president of the Chinese Football Association, said the multiregional approach is the league's key innovation.

"We've seen many provincial mass soccer leagues, but none that span a major multi-province region like this," Song said, adding he hopes the league plays a role in both boosting the sport and regional development.

Flourishing grassroots competitions across the country, driven by immense public interest, are signs of the revitalization and development of Chinese soccer, Song said.

At a recent meeting, Song said that the association will launch a system this year to track the economic impact of local events on host cities. It will also refine the statistical standards for the "soccer population" across the country and implement regular monitoring, providing reliable data to guide future decisions and investment in the sport.

Grassroots tournaments are also sowing the seeds for soccer's long-term future in China. According to the CFA, the number of registered elite U21 players in China has increased 24.9 percent over the past two years to 109,200. On Jan 24, China finished runner-up at the AFC U23 Asian Cup — its first-ever appearance in the U23 final.

Chen Xiaowen, a player from the Changsha team, has witnessed this significant shift.

"I have recently seen many more parents playing soccer with their children in parks than before, even if they are not good at the sport. They are simply having fun," he said.

Chen believes that watching their local team play can have a profound motivational impact on children. "Seeing players represent their hometowns might inspire them to dream of doing the same in the future," he said, "Eventually, these dreams may open doors to even greater opportunities."

Yu Ying, head of the training department at a soccer school in Dalian, Liaoning province, echoed this sentiment.

"I understand how much an exciting match can influence a child," Yu told Xinhua News Agency. "Hopefully, the new regional league will inspire more kids to fall in love with the sport."

Zhu Youfang in Changsha contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at limuyun@chinadaily.com.cn