The official emblem of the 2026 Fujian Football City League. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2026 Fujian Football City League was launched on April 9, marking the start of a six-month tournament aimed at promoting regional sports exchange.

Ten representative teams from nine municipalities and one experimental zone will compete in the league, featuring 482 players from diverse professional backgrounds. The roster includes students, teachers, residents, workers, and Taiwan compatriots living in Fujian province, with players ranging in age from 16 to 45.

The tournament structure comprises a regular season, a ranking stage, and a final. The regular season begins April 19 at the Fuzhou Cross-Strait Olympic Sports Center with an opening match between Fuzhou and Xiamen. This initial phase follows a single round-robin format through June, followed by a double round-robin ranking stage from August to October. The top two teams from the championship group will eventually compete for the title.

The league's mascots feature cultural symbols and reflect the spirit of Fujian's diverse regions. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Organizers have integrated a branding system featuring five mascots inspired by regional cultural symbols. To broaden the event's reach, the league will host exhibition matches involving teams from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.

The opening ceremony on April 19 will feature appearances by Olympic champions Li Fabin, Li Wenwen, and Lin Li, as well as Asian Games gold medalist Lin Yuwei, to headline the event and add celebrity appeal to the celebration.