Core Insights - The article highlights the contrasting fortunes of Chinese football, with the national teams struggling while grassroots leagues like the "Su Super League" thrive, indicating a potential shift in the football landscape in China [1][5][6] National Team Struggles - The Chinese men's national football team faced a disappointing performance in the World Cup qualifiers, losing to Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Indonesia, ultimately failing to qualify for the World Cup [2] - The women's national team also experienced setbacks in friendly matches, including a significant loss to England [2] - Coaching changes occurred following these failures, with Ivan Kovačević leaving the men's team and Shao Jiayi taking over, while the future of the women's coach remains uncertain [2] Youth Team Performance - In contrast to the senior teams, youth national teams showed promise, with the U20 men's team narrowly missing out on the World Cup and the U17 women's team making history by reaching the knockout stage of the U17 Women's World Cup [3][4] - The improvement in youth teams is attributed to the development of grassroots football and youth training systems established since the 2015 reform plan [3] Grassroots Football Surge - The "Su Super League" emerged as a significant phenomenon in 2025, attracting over 2.43 million live spectators and over 2 billion online views, becoming a cultural and sporting success [5][6] - Other regional leagues like "Gan Super" and "Xiang Super" have also gained popularity, indicating a nationwide growth in grassroots football [5] Reform and Development - The Chinese government is focusing on football reforms, emphasizing the importance of football in building a strong sports nation and enhancing international influence [8][9] - Key reforms include the establishment of the Chinese Football Professional League and the National Football Youth Training Center, aimed at improving the structure and quality of football in China [10][11] - The reforms are designed to create a sustainable football ecosystem that supports both professional and grassroots levels, ensuring a holistic approach to football development [10][11]
国足沉浮与“城超”燎原
Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-12-24 16:48