Village Super League: China’s Rural Football Phenomenon
The fourth Guizhou Village Super League (村超 / Cun Chao) finals concluded on July 25 in Rongjiang County, with Chejiang Yicun defeating Pingyongcun 1-0 to claim the championship. FIFA World Cup referee Ma Ning attended as a special guest commentator, praising the tournament as “the purest form of football we most hope to see,” according to Xinhua News Agency. The event underscored how a grassroots football competition born in a remote corner of Southwest China has evolved into a nationwide cultural phenomenon and a powerful engine for rural economic development.
Background: A Grassroots Football Revolution
Football has deep roots in Rongjiang County, located in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province. The sport was introduced in the 1940s by Guangxi University students fleeing the Japanese invasion during the Second Sino-Japanese War, according to Wikipedia. By the 1950s, football had become a staple of local school activities, and in 1965, the Rongjiang team won the Qiandongnan Prefecture Football Championship.
In 1990, the Rongjiang Football Association was established, with villagers building makeshift fields on flood-damaged land — an act of community resilience that laid the groundwork for today’s Village Super League. In 2021, Rongjiang was designated a National Football Model County, recognizing its grassroots infrastructure and youth development programs.
The 2026 Season: Record Participation
The 2026 season kicked off on January 2 and featured 137 village teams competing in 528 matches — the largest edition yet. As China Economic Net reported, the tournament covered all villages in Rongjiang County, maintaining its hallmark structure of amateur, community-driven competition. All players are farmers, construction workers, small business owners, and students; professional athletes are barred to preserve the league’s grassroots character.
The final on July 25 drew tens of thousands of spectators to the Village Super League stadium. In the earlier third-place match, Zhongcheng Village defeated Dali Dongzhai 8-7 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time. Lu Hongliu from Shuiwei Village was named the season’s Best Scorer.
Following the final, the “Rongyao Night” cultural gala featured performances by the Oriental Myth duo, children’s football-themed exercises, traditional ethnic drum music and dances, a drone light show, and a fireworks display, blending ethnic heritage with modern spectacle.
Ma Ning: “The Purest Football”
Ma Ning, who officiated matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attended the finals as a special guest commentator. Speaking at the event, he remarked: “I really felt everyone’s love for football and their enthusiasm at the scene. This is truly the purest form of football we most hope to see,” Xinhua reported. His presence underscored how far the Village Super League has come — from a small inter-village tournament to an event attracting international football figures.
Economic Impact: Turning Matches into Millions
Perhaps the most remarkable story of the Village Super League is its transformative economic impact on Rongjiang County. According to China Economic Net, the “Cun Chao” brand has become the county’s core economic engine.
In the first half of 2026 alone, Rongjiang welcomed 5.0667 million tourists, a 7.20% increase year-on-year, generating 5.255 billion yuan in tourism spending. Over four years, the county has accumulated 28.87 million tourist visits and 324.9 billion yuan in tourism revenue. More than 10,000 new business entities have been created since the tournament began, forming a virtuous cycle that local officials describe as “sports-driven tourism, tourism-fueled revitalization.”
International Reach and What’s Next
The Village Super League’s influence extends far beyond Guizhou. In 2023, it signed a strategic partnership with the English Premier League, launching grassroots coaching initiatives. International friendlies have involved teams from France, Liberia, Brazil, Benin, and Hong Kong. The model has already been replicated in Benin and South Africa as “African Village Super Leagues.”
Looking ahead, organizers have announced plans for a “Cun Chao World Cup” in 2028 and the construction of a football-themed cultural town in Rongjiang, positioning the county as a global destination for sports tourism.
Yet challenges remain. As the Village Super League grows, maintaining its non-commercial, community-driven character while managing the pressures of rising popularity will be critical. For now, however, the sight of tens of thousands of villagers celebrating their teams under the lights in Rongjiang serves as a powerful reminder that football’s purest expression can be found far from the floodlit stadiums of the world’s elite leagues.