Northeast Super: China’s First Regional Grassroots Football League Kicks Off
On May 23, 2026, China’s first-ever regional urban football league — the “Northeast Super” (东北超) — kicked off simultaneously in four cities across Northeast China, drawing over 100,000 spectators on opening night. Officially named the 2026 Northeast China Regional City Football League, the tournament features eight city teams, 390 amateur players, and 34 matches running through October 5, marking a significant milestone in China’s rapidly growing grassroots sports movement.
A Historic Opening Night
Opening ceremonies and first matches were held simultaneously in the evening in Shenyang (Liaoning), Changchun (Jilin), Harbin (Heilongjiang), and Hohhot (Inner Mongolia). The Shenyang vs. Jixi match alone drew nearly 40,000 fans, with a ticket lottery success rate of just 30.64%, according to Xinhua News Agency. Across all four venues, 12 goals were scored in the opening round, with Shenyang and Dalian — both representing Liaoning Province — winning their opening matches.
“This is my first time watching a game live. My voice is already hoarse from shouting. I never knew football could be so exciting!” said Shenyang resident Yang Haibin, as reported by CNR (央广网).
Grassroots at Its Core
The league’s defining feature is its commitment to amateur sport. All 390 players were selected from tens of thousands of applicants and include students, couriers, teachers, enterprise employees, and cultural figures. The average age is approximately 22, and current or former players from the Chinese Super League (CSL), China League One, or China League Two are strictly prohibited, as confirmed by the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau.
Ticket prices are capped at just 20 RMB (approximately US$2.80), ensuring accessibility for all. Despite its amateur status, the league employs professional-grade technology: all matches use Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems, over 70% of match supervisors have professional league experience, and over 60% of referees are national-level.
Building Bridges Across Regions
“This event is not only a competition on the field for the players, but also builds a bridge for communication between people and exchange between cities,” said Liu Yong, Party Branch Secretary of the Hohhot Football and Social Sports Development Center, as quoted by China News Service. “Grassroots football enters daily life, using a simple love for sports to bring regions closer and enhance regional exchange and interaction.”
The league covers a population of approximately 120 million people across Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia. The regular season (May 23 – August 15) uses a single round-robin system with home-and-away matches, followed by a knockout stage (September 5 – October 1) for the top four teams.
Sports Meets Tourism
A key innovation of the “Northeast Super” is its deep integration with cultural tourism. The four provinces jointly created the “Super Tour Northeast” (超游东北) cultural IP, featuring seven curated travel routes, multiple “second viewing venues,” fan trains connecting host cities, and 15 million RMB in ride-hailing vouchers.
Liaoning has opened over 100 scenic spots for free admission to ticket holders. Jilin offers curated travel routes with free first-ticket admission at dozens of scenic spots. Heilongjiang is planning over 500 consumption-promotion events, with Harbin issuing over 40 million RMB in cultural tourism vouchers. Inner Mongolia has introduced a 299 RMB cultural tourism card covering 120 scenic spots. Over 10,000 merchants are participating in supporting services and tourism discounts.
A Growing Movement
The “Northeast Super” is the latest chapter in China’s grassroots football phenomenon. It follows the “Village Super League” (村超) in Guizhou, which launched in 2023 and became a national sensation, and the “Jiangsu Super League” (苏超), which debuted in 2025. However, the Northeast Super is the first to span multiple provinces, representing an escalation from local events to a coordinated regional initiative.
Cao Yang, Director of the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau and a key architect of the league, stated that the tournament will “effectively enhance the football atmosphere in Northeast China, increase public participation, and build a foundation for the development of football,” while also leveraging the opportunity to “promote the deep integration of culture, sports, tourism, and commerce, and ultimately contribute real football power to the revitalization of Northeast China.”
What’s Next
With 30+ major corporate sponsors including Kalme, CATL, Geely Auto, and JD.com, and sponsorship agreements totaling nearly 100 million RMB, the league has strong financial backing for its inaugural season. The championship match is scheduled for October 5, 2026. If successful, the “Northeast Super” could serve as a template for other regional sports leagues across China, further strengthening the country’s grassroots sports infrastructure and community engagement.