The much-anticipated 2025–2026 Sichuan Provincial Urban Football League (hereinafter referred to as the «Chuan Super League») will kick off next month. On August 23, it was learned that the Chengdu team has completed the preliminary recruitment and registration process. From August 15 to 22, a total of 354 people successfully registered and qualified for the Chengdu team selection. They will compete for multiple positions including head coach, assistant coach, and fitness coach. Among them, 321 individuals registered for player selection.
Rich Heritage
Overwhelming Response to Recruitment
Recently, under the coordination of the Municipal Sports Bureau, team formation and venue selection have been progressing in an orderly manner. «Passionate assembly, fight for Chengdu!» On the 15th, after the Chengdu Football Association’s official WeChat account issued the recruitment notice for the «Chuan Super League» Chengdu team, the response was overwhelming. After registration closed on the evening of the 22nd, the Chengdu Football Association immediately began verifying qualifications and checking for duplicate entries, ultimately confirming 354 successful registrations.
The overwhelming response to the Chengdu team selection is fundamentally due to Chengdu’s rich football heritage. Chengdu is one of the first cities in China to launch an urban football league, having hosted the first urban football league as early as 2007. After years of development, the Chengdu Urban Football League now covers all age groups including seniors, adults, youth, children, and features competitions in 11-a-side, 8-a-side, and 5-a-side formats. According to incomplete statistics, Chengdu currently has over 10,000 amateur football teams and hosts more than 20,000 football matches annually. It is worth mentioning that the 11-a-side urban football league, after 18 years of development, has formed a three-tier league system (Super, First, and Second Division) with 42 participating teams. The scale and competitive level of the event rank among the top nationwide. The league is linked to the Chinese Football Association Member Association Champions League, serving as the only pathway for local amateur teams to advance to professional levels.
Fierce Competition
Seven Applicants for Head Coach
With comprehensive development in professional football, grassroots football, and school football, Chengdu’s achievements in Sichuan and national competitions have repeatedly reached new heights. In the recently concluded football event of the 15th National Games mass competition, the Chengdu team, representing Sichuan, won the championship in the men’s seven-a-side football Group B and finished fourth in Group A.
It is reported that the Chengdu Football Association will conduct on-site selections for the Chengdu team next weekend. Among the 321 players registered for selection, there are not only «hidden talents» who dominate Chengdu’s various pitches but also several former national team-level players! With 321 individuals competing for over 40 spots in the «Chuan Super League,» the elimination rate exceeds 80%, and the competition is expected to be unprecedentedly fierce.
Compared to player selection, what may attract more attention from fans is the appointment of the Chengdu team’s head coach. On July 31, the Luzhou Municipal Education and Sports Bureau announced the appointment of Wei Qun, a former member of the «Five Tigers» of Quanxing and known as «The Hero,» as head coach of the Luzhou team, drawing significant attention. Who will be the head coach of the Chengdu team? Will it be a familiar face from the «Old Quanxing» era? It remains unclear. It has been learned that seven individuals have applied for the head coach position of the Chengdu team, all holding AFC/Chinese Football Association B-level or higher coaching certificates. In addition, 26 people have registered to compete for three assistant coach positions (including goalkeeper coach and fitness coach) and one team doctor position.
Careful selection, professional preparation, and aiming to shine again! From 2022 to 2024, Chengdu formed a team to participate in the «Bashu Xiongqi Cup,» achieving a three-peat championship. For the 2025 «Chuan Super League,» the Chengdu team’s goal is to win the championship! On the 15th, when the Chengdu Football Association issued the recruitment notice, it clearly defined the head coach’s responsibilities: «Lead the team to compete in the divisionals and finals, aiming for the championship!»