League

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