NANJING, China, July 7, 2025
From “Big Su Chao” to “Little Su Chao,” football fever ignites Jiangsu’s summer
A youth league fosters dreams and builds a foundation for future Chinese football.
- The Jiangsu Urban Football League is fostering youth participation.
- Student athletes comprise 31% of the “Soviet Super League” players.
- The “Little Su Chao” provides a platform for young talent.
- The league aims to integrate sports and education.
- Netizens express high expectations for the future of Chinese football.
The Jiangsu Urban Football League, specifically the “Su Chao,” is cultivating young talent, and the youth version, “Little Su Chao,” acts as a developmental platform, driving enthusiasm and participation in the sport across the region.
The Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Stadium buzzed with youthful energy on the evening of July 5. A vibrant match between Nanjing and Suzhou, the sixth round of the 2025 Jiangsu Urban Football League, was underway.
Amidst the roaring crowd, a 13-year-old boy named Manraj, traveled over 2,000 kilometers from Gonghe County, Qinghai Province. Holding aloft a hand-painted, Tibetan-Chinese banner, Manraj cheered: “I love Jiangsu, come on, Brother Nan!”
A summer of football fever
The “Soviet Super League” has captured the imagination of young people throughout the summer. This infectious enthusiasm is spreading from the green field to the hearts of teenagers.
Student athletes are a notable presence on the field. Statistics show that 158 out of 516 players in the “Soviet Super League” in 2025 are students, accounting for 31% of the league.
From those running on the field to the “little fans” cheering in the stands, football has become a unique symbol in the minds of young teenagers. The “Soviet Super League” has captured their imagination, becoming a favorite topic of conversation.
Jiangsu’s “Thirteenth Taibao” Children’s Football Super League has also kicked off, marking the start of the youth version of “Su Super League.” Passionate teenagers are bravely working hard, sweating, and shining on the green field, making the “Little Su Chao” a vital element of the football landscape.
More than a game
Football is not just a competitive sport; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Recognizing this, Jiangsu is leveraging the “Soviet Super League” to boost youth football development and further elevate the event’s profile.
Local football events have flourished over the past couple of years, creating a ripple effect. From the “village superstar” of Guizhou to the “Sui Shang” of Jiangsu, football provides entertainment and lays the groundwork for future generations, attracting and inspiring “future seedlings” to grow within the sport.
With a robust football infrastructure, Jiangsu has the potential to launch a large-scale youth football league, creating a new landscape with the characteristics of the “Soviet Super League.”
Investing in the future
Jiangsu is pinning its hopes for football development on its youth. By organizing events and integrating sports with education, the goal is to encourage more children to embrace football from an early age, participate in games, and nurture the next generation of talent.
The youth version of the “Su Super League” showcases clean tackles, seamless teamwork, and relentless sprints. The “Su Super League” is inspiring dream-chasing teenagers, backed by the support of parents and schools, to create the Jiangsu football “Dream Workshop.”
“Come on, the future of Chinese football!” exclaimed one netizen. Online, sentiments like “It is meaningful only when you start with love” and “The purest football, the most beautiful memory” reflect the public’s renewed optimism for the sport.
The ultimate goal? To see these “young players” running, striving, and excelling as the best players, scorers, and goalkeepers of tomorrow.
