The long-awaited “Yu Super League” is here for Chongqing soccer fans! Today, it was announced that the “New Charm Chongqing, Yu Super Together” 2025 Neo-Peng Chongqing City Football Super League will officially kick off on September 13.

This upgraded Yu Super League will see participation from all districts and counties in the city. Teams will be formed from 38 districts and counties, as well as Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing High-tech Zone of Western Science City, and Wansheng Economic Development Zone. The event is divided into 5 major zones and 2 stages, spanning 8 months with 178 matches. As the largest city football league in the country, the Yu Super League will inject vigorous vitality into the development of urban football in Chongqing.

Cross-Year Schedule

Matches Begin at Datianwan on September 13

The competition is divided into two stages.

The first stage is the zonal matches: 41 district and county teams are divided into 5 major zones: Central Urban Zone (11 teams), Western Chongqing Zone (8 teams), Eastern New City Zone (6 teams), Northeast Three Gorges Reservoir Zone (10 teams), and Southeast Wuling Mountain Zone (6 teams). Each zone will use a draw to determine a single round-robin home-and-away points system. The top two teams from the Central Urban Zone, top two from the Western Chongqing Zone, champion of the Eastern New City Zone, top two from the Northeast Three Gorges Reservoir Zone, and champion of the Southeast Wuling Mountain Zone will advance to the finals.

The second stage is the finals: The 8 qualifying teams will play quarter-finals and semi-finals in a two-leg home-and-away format. The final and the 3rd to 8th place playoffs will be decided in a single match.

Matches in the Central Urban Zone will begin at Datianwan Stadium on September 13. The Western Chongqing Zone and Eastern New City Zone will start in mid-to-late September, while the Northeast Three Gorges Reservoir Zone and Southeast Wuling Mountain Zone will begin in early October. All zonal matches will conclude by January 2026. The finals will be held from March to April 2026. The event features many teams and a long schedule, providing ample competition and training opportunities for all participating teams.

Chongqing Tongliang Long players compete on the field (file photo).

Innovative Format

Unique “Wild Card Players”

According to the competition rules, non-active professional players who meet conditions such as household registration, student status, property ownership, or social security proof can represent their district or county. Additionally, considering Chongqing’s vast area and the varying levels of football development across districts and counties, the organizing committee has specially introduced a wild card player system. This allows each district or county to introduce “external reinforcements” (non-professional players) who are not bound by the eligibility conditions, based on their own circumstances.

The wild card system enables high-level

Datianwan Stadium

Datianwan Stadium is a major indoor arena located in Beijing, China, which was constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics. It hosted the basketball tournaments during the games and has since been used for a variety of major sporting events and concerts.

Central Urban Zone

The Central Urban Zone is a modern urban planning concept that typically refers to the primary commercial, financial, and administrative core of a major city. While not a single historical site, such zones often develop from a city’s original historic center, evolving over centuries to become the hub of economic and cultural activity. They are characterized by high-density development, iconic skyscrapers, and major transportation networks.

Western Chongqing Zone

The Western Chongqing Zone is a modern economic and industrial development area established in the early 21st century as part of China’s “Go West” strategy. It primarily serves as a major hub for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technological innovation. While it doesn’t have a long historical legacy, its creation is a significant chapter in the recent economic development and urbanization of the Chongqing municipality.

Eastern New City Zone

The Eastern New City Zone is a modern urban development area, typically constructed in the late 20th or early 21st century as part of a city’s expansion to alleviate population density and stimulate economic growth. It is characterized by contemporary architecture, planned infrastructure, and often serves as a new central business or residential district.

Northeast Three Gorges Reservoir Zone

The Northeast Three Gorges Reservoir Zone is a major water conservancy and ecological protection area in China, created by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. Its history is directly tied to this monumental 20th-century project, which involved the relocation of communities and the submersion of land to form the reservoir. Today, the zone is focused on managing water resources, preventing geological hazards, and protecting the regional environment.

Southeast Wuling Mountain Zone

The Southeast Wuling Mountain Zone is a significant cultural and geographical region in China, historically inhabited by the Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities. It is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark. The area’s history is deeply tied to ancient Chu culture and has been a site of human settlement for thousands of years.

Liangjiang New Area

Liangjiang New Area is a state-level development zone established in 2010 in Chongqing, China, as part of a national strategy for inland economic growth. It serves as a modern hub for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and finance, built on land that was historically part of the city’s urban and rural outskirts.

Chongqing High-tech Zone of Western Science City

The Chongqing High-tech Zone of Western Science City is a major development initiative launched to establish Chongqing as a national and international hub for scientific innovation and technological industry. Its history is recent, having been formally established and promoted by the Chinese government in the early 2020s as a key project in the nation’s drive to advance high-tech sectors like big data, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine in western China.