China's Northeast Super League kicks off across four cities

SHENYANG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 Northeast China City Football League, popularly dubbed the "Northeast Super League," kicked off on Saturday evening, with matches electrifying stadiums across four regional hubs.

The opening match in Shenyang saw the home team face off against Jixi from Heilongjiang Province, drawing a roaring crowd of nearly 40,000 spectators. Demand for the opener was exceptionally high, with organizers reporting a ticket lottery success rate of just 30.64 percent.

In other opening-round action, Changchun took on Tongliao of Inner Mongolia, Harbin met Liaoning's Dalian, and Hohhot hosted Jilin's Yanbian.

Featuring eight teams, the league's regular season will follow a single round-robin format. Each team will play seven matches for a total of 28 games across the league, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout stage. The semifinals will be contested over two legs, while the final and the third-place playoff will be single-elimination matches. The season is scheduled to wrap up on October 5.

With an average player age of around 22, the tournament boasts a youth-focused squad structure aimed at providing vital competitive experience for rising talent.

Cao Yang, director of the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau, noted that the league aims to leverage its unique sports IP to inject vitality into the regional football industry, strengthen youth training foundations, and blaze a trail for football revitalization with distinct northeastern characteristics.

To elevate the fan experience, the four host regions have jointly launched a cultural and tourism campaign titled "Super Tour Northeast." The initiative features seven curated travel routes and multiple public viewing venues. Furthermore, fans holding match ticket stubs can enjoy exclusive discounts at partner hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and local bathhouses.

The Northeast Super League has already secured robust commercial backing, partnering with more than 30 renowned enterprises, including Kelme, CATL, and Geely Auto, alongside licensing agreements with various small and micro businesses. This market development drive has generated nearly 100 million yuan, or about 13.8 million U.S. dollars, in sponsorships. Enditem