Guizhou rural soccer super league takes internet by storm

A total of 20 teams compete in the rural soccer super league. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Rongjiang county, located in Southwest China's Guizhou province, is witnessing a surge in popularity as videos of its rural soccer league flood the country's short video platforms. This sporting phenomenon has become the latest sensation following the success of the "village basketball association" in Guizhou's Taipan village.

The captivating videos showcase the exhilarating opening match of Rongjiang's village soccer super league, which took place on May 13. A total of 20 teams, composed of passionate residents, gathered for intense competitions. The league is scheduled to continue until August, promising months filled with thrilling matches.

The opening ceremony was a vibrant display of ethnicity, creating a festive atmosphere for all participants and drawing a crowd of 10,000 spectators.

After the group stage, the top teams move on to cross-knockout matches and the finals to compete for the top four positions and rewards.

The competition sets awards for moral integrity and excellent organization, with two winners each. Each winning team will be rewarded with two pig feet, while the first-place prize is a yellow calf, the second-place prize is a pig, the third-place prize is sheep, and the fourth-place prize is a goose.

Soccer is a popular sport with a long history in Rongjiang. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Rongjiang's rural soccer super league has a longstanding history that dates back to the 1990s when a group of soccer-loving villagers made an open-air soccer pitch. Since then, this event has evolved into a cherished community tradition.

Soccer holds a special place in Rongjiang as a traditional sport and one of the most beloved pastimes. The county has hosted many provincial and municipal campus soccer competitions, with teams from local schools achieving remarkable results.

In recognition of its dedication to the sport, Rongjiang was designated as a provincial trailblazer for campus soccer in 2016. Furthermore, in 2021, it proudly earned the distinction of being one of the first national county-level soccer model counties.