The first edition of the Sichuan City Football League, also known as “Chuanchao”, kicked off on the evening of September 20 at the Chengdu Shuangliu Sports Center. The opening match saw the home team, Chengdu Jincheng team, face Suining Shedegan team. Chengdu Jincheng team secured a 6-0 victory.

During the opening ceremony, 400 street dancers performed alongside the league’s mascots, “Chao Ge” and “Chao Mei”. This was followed by the entrance of teams from 21 cities. Each team showcased unique cultural and tourism features of their region. The ceremony concluded with the well-known “Quanxing Song”, as seasoned players from the Sichuan Quanxing team took the field wearing special commemorative jerseys (纪念服), joining fans to mark the official start of the league.

Beyond just football, the event highlighted how Shuangliu District uses sports and culture to attract visitors and support local business. The district partnered with four major shopping centers to set up “second venues” where over 2,000 seats were provided for viewing. Attendees could watch the matches, shop, and dine all in one place. Outside the stadium, a 15,000-square-meter activity area featured 70 booths and three themed zones — performances, recreation, and food — offering pre-match entertainment, live broadcasts, and local cuisine.

To encourage fans to explore more of Shuangliu, the district also launched special tourist routes connecting key attractions such as Qushang Country Park, Shuangliu Airport Flower Fields, and Fengxiang Lake Park. One-day and two-day travel packages were made available. In addition, numerous hotels, restaurants, and stores offered special discounts to ticket holders, allowing visitors to enjoy both football and sightseeing.

The “Chuanchao” league is set to run from September 2025 to July 2026, consisting of a group stage and a finals phase. From late September to December, the 21 participating teams will be divided into four groups competing for nine spots in the finals. The finals will take place from March to June 2026. Once the champion is determined, a combined team made up of players from the other 20 teams will compete against the champions in an ultimate showdown. Chengdu has been drawn in the Eastern Sichuan group alongside Suining, Dazhou, Bazhong, Guang’an, and Nanchong.

1. 1.What was the result of the opening match?

A    A close win.

B    A clear victory.

C    A surprising draw.

D    A narrow defeat.

2. 2.What was a highlight of the opening ceremony besides the mascot show?

A    A fireworks display.

B    Cultural team presentations.

C    A famous singer’s performance.

D    A military parade.

3. 3.The “second venues” were set up mainly to allow people to ______.

A    watch the game comfortably

B    buy special food quickly

C    meet famous players easily

D    enjoy various activities together

4. 4.The final paragraph mainly describes the ______.

A     teams in the competition

B    structure of the tournament

C    challenges for the players

D    location of the matches