Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On January 2, 2026, the 4th Guizhou "Village Super League" officially kicked off in Rongjiang County. 137 village-level teams gathered from the fields and streets, continuing this football cultural feast rooted in the "village flavor."
From 20 teams in the first edition to 137 teams in the fourth, the number of players participating in the "Village Super League" has increased significantly. Wang Yonggui, deputy director of the Guizhou "Village Super League" office, frankly stated that since the "Village Super League" became popular, it has completely ignited the football passion of villages throughout Rongjiang County. Each village has mobilized its entire resources to form a team and come to the "Village Super League" field, hoping to convey local sentiments and showcase the village's character through football.
Wang Yonggui explained that the fourth "Village Super League" preliminary round consists of 422 matches, divided into 20 groups, each with 6 to 7 teams. A round-robin format is used, with the top two teams advancing to the top 40. After the top 40, a single-elimination tournament is held to determine the top 20. These 20 teams are then divided into two groups, with a round-robin format for each group, and the top four teams advancing to the top 8. A single-elimination tournament then determines the 2026 "Village Super League" champion.
2026 will be Wu Yingkai's fourth year coaching in the "Village Super League." Over these four years, he has witnessed the continuous upward trajectory of the "Village Super League" football players. Wu Yingkai said, "From the dirt and grass of village-level matches, we've gradually moved towards a more professional competitive stage, attracting international football enthusiasts to exchange ideas and learn from each other. This has continuously promoted changes in our coaching philosophy."
The players' growth trajectory is a vivid microcosm of how the "Village Super League" has transformed from a grassroots event into an engine for local economic development. This football extravaganza rooted in the countryside is continuously releasing strong economic momentum, propelling Rongjiang County in Guizhou Province to achieve leapfrog development from a "nearby border region of Guizhou" to a "hotbed of cultural tourism." Since May 2023, Rongjiang has hosted over 2,700 "Village Super League" matches, receiving over 26 million tourists and generating nearly 30 billion yuan (RMB) in tourism revenue.
Currently, taking advantage of the start of the new season, Guizhou's "Village Super League" is initiating the signing ceremony for the second "Village Super League" National Competition in 2026. It will collaborate with 100 cities nationwide, establishing 100 county-level competition zones to promote county-level industrial cooperation. From Rongjiang to the whole country, from the stadium to industry, using football as a medium, culture as a platform, and trade and economics as the main drivers, it aims to promote cooperation. (End)
