In September, Zibo, the autumn scenery is charming; the Super League is held at the right time.
On September 13, the 2025 11th Shandong Qilu Football Super League (hereinafter referred to as Qilu Super League) will hold the opening ceremony and opening match at the Zibo Sports Center Stadium, with Zibo Qiji United Team vs. Jinan United Team.
In 2004, Linzi, Zibo, was officially recognized by FIFA as the origin of world football (ancient) and the five words “the origin of football” became Zibo’s unique cultural IP. The origin of football, Zibo and Qilu Super League, “holding hands” is the echo of Qi’s cultural spirit in modern times, opening up the era chapter of the integrated development of Chinese traditional culture and modern football.
This season, the Qilu Super League has 4 groups, with a total of 18 teams participating – Group A (Binzhou team, Dezhou Wenzeng team, Liaocheng Legend team, Heze Caozhou team, Dongying Zhuifeng Youth Team), Group B (Jinan United, Taishan Urban Construction Team, Zibo Qiji United Team, Linyi Red Arrow Team), Group C (Linyi Scouting Team, Jining Team, Zaozhuang Team, Heze Inspiration Team), and Group D (Weihai Weichao Team, Rizhao Team, Weifang Team, Jinan Quansheng United Team, Yantai Bank Team). The group stage adopts a single round-robin match system at home and away, and the qualifying match adopts a double round match system at home and away, and the top 8 are determined. The background color of “People’s Football” in the Qilu Super League interprets the concept of changing from “fan’s football” to “everyone’s football”, and will definitely form a social craze for the whole people to watch the game, discuss the game, and love the game.
From the origin to the Qilu Super League, the style of a city spans three thousand years – Cuju and football, ancient and modern, civilization and fashion, culture and sports, economy and events, consumption and people’s livelihood. You have me and I have you. They gather here, blend here, and open up “world waves” here.
At present, the event economy activates consumption in the entire industrial chain through large-scale sports events, forming a closed-loop scenario of “pre-in-and-after-to-end” to promote consumption upgrading and diversified development of urban economy. The Qilu Super League is an important platform for creating a “sports and business integration” consumption scenario and releasing the event multiplier effect. It is also a “key goal” for the endogenous growth of the sports industry, activate the night economy, and boosting new growth poles of urban economics such as cultural and tourism consumption.
Football is the common language of the world and a new carrier for Zibo to embrace the world in the origin. The opening ceremony and opening match of the Qilu Super League will build the best “arena” for Zibo to participate in higher-dimensional urban competition. When ancient Cuju meets modern football, when barbecue fireworks are steaming in the green arena, when the “five Zibos” dance with national football, when “people are beautiful and beautiful, and the hearts are united” support the urban cultural landmark, Zibo, which has strong football genes, will present more exciting things to the world with an open and inclusive attitude.
Hou Zhiqiang, head coach of Zibo Qiji United Team, said, “The holding of the league can mobilize the enthusiasm of the people’s football. It is not only conducive to the promotion of football projects, further tapping and cultivating football talents, injecting new vitality into the long-term development of Zibo football, but also conducive to building a city brand. Zibo is the origin of world football and has a deep football background. This is a good opportunity to showcase it.”
Take advantage of the momentum and take advantage of the opportunity. To achieve the “3510” development goals and the “strong, prosperous, beautiful and excellent” urban vision, the origin of football is of great importance, and Cuju is an important carrier. With the opening ceremony and opening match of the Qilu Super League, Zibo will further polish the Qi culture brand, Cuju brand, and origin brand, expand and strengthen the cultural tourism industry and sports event industry, and promote the city’s economy to achieve high-quality development.
It’s so colorful, Zibo is good!
Reporter Mi Jiafeng
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