The Jiangsu City Football League's Unprecedented Rise in Popularity

On a Saturday night, over 60,000 sports fans gathered at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Stadium to watch a football match. The event wasn't a Chinese Super League (CSL) game or an international competition, but a match between Nanjing and Suzhou from the Jiangsu City Football League, a provincial amateur competition. This attendance of 60,396 spectators set a new record for amateur football in the country, surpassing the previous benchmark.

The remarkable attendance was close to the highest match attendance of the 2025 CSL season, highlighting the unprecedented scale and momentum of the provincial league. The following evening, over 30,000 fans attended a game in Nanjing's neighboring Zhenjiang. Initially, when the tournament started in May, attendance was limited. However, securing a ticket has become extremely difficult. Tickets for the Saturday match sold out quickly. The Nanjing team had to move its home venue from a 22,000-capacity stadium to the 61,000-capacity Olympic Sports Center Stadium in June.

The Jiangsu City Football League, initially a local initiative to integrate football into Jiangsu's urban culture, has evolved into a widespread sporting phenomenon. The league has exceeded expectations in both attendance and atmosphere. During a recent match, flags from neighboring provinces were visible, indicating the league's growing appeal. Fans from other cities have formed organized groups to support the games. Even visitors from other provinces were seen in the stands.

Some sports industry professionals have noted that the league is attracting more attention than even higher-level international events. The league's popularity on Chinese social media has attracted attention beyond Jiangsu and China's borders. Several retired international stars have expressed interest in participating in promotional events.

The matches are infused with a level of personal connection and emotion. During a recent match, a player celebrated his goal with a gesture in tribute to a recently deceased player. Much of the league's appeal is rooted in the emotions associated with the former Jiangsu FC, the province's top-tier club that won the Chinese Super League title in 2020. After the club was disbanded due to financial difficulties, fans found a new outlet in the Jiangsu City Football League. It has become a tradition for supporters to chant "Jiangsu team" in the 35th minute, a tribute to the former champions.