Xiamen Football Reclaims its Professional Status After 18-year Hiatus
After an 18-year absence, professional football has returned to Xiamen, culminating in a 2-0 victory for xiamen 102 against Shanghai Saigenda Jucheng on October 26th. This win secured their advancement to Chinese League Two for the 2026 season and ignited fervent celebrations at the Xiamen Sports Center.
The victory marks a important resurgence for a city with a century-long football tradition. xiamen experienced a peak in professional football at the turn of the millennium, but the Xiamen Football Team was disbanded in 2007, leaving a void in the city’s professional football landscape for nearly two decades.
Despite the absence of a professional team, grassroots football continued to thrive in Xiamen. The city boasts approximately 200 football-specific schools, with over 130,000 primary and secondary school students regularly participating in football activities. Xiamen No. 2 Middle School has consistently achieved national championship success, demonstrating a strong foundation of youth development. This sustained commitment at the grassroots level directly contributed to the success of Xiamen 102.
The return to professional competition builds on recent high-profile events hosted in the city. In November of last year, Xiamen Bailu Stadium (also known as Egret Stadium) hosted a crucial Asian World Cup preliminary match between China and Japan. Despite a 1-3 loss for the national team,the game marked the first time in five years Japan had conceded a goal to China,and the first time they’d been scored against in the top 18 of the Asian preliminaries. The stadium was nearly full despite being a weekday fixture,showcasing the passionate support of Xiamen fans.
Looking ahead, the focus is on building a lasting and vibrant football ecosystem within the city. The article highlights the success of leagues like the “Scottish Super League” as a model for prioritizing enjoyment and community engagement. Xiamen,with its dedicated fanbase,established football infrastructure,and enduring spirit,is well-positioned to cultivate a unique “Xiamen Super League” surroundings.
The return to the Chinese Professional League is viewed as a starting point,with the ultimate goal of integrating football deeply into the city’s culture,transforming the league into a community festival,a source of civic pride,and a platform for aspiring young players.The future ambition is to reach a new “peak” for Xiamen football, fueled by the enduring passion of its supporters.
(Source: Morning News reporter Cai Yilin)
Published in: Beijing
