Sanxiang Metropolis Daily·New Hunan Client All-Media Commentator Zhang Jun video He Jiajie
“The first game of the 2026 Soviet Super League begins in Yongzhou, Hunan.” The billboard at the head of Songjiazhou Bridge in Yongzhou City has become the most pyrotechnic “football arena” in early 2026. When the billboards are lined up at the bridge, it is not only congratulations to the Yongzhou team, but also a collective affirmation of the grassroots football atmosphere.
The origin of this cross-border congratulations contains the most touching resonance of grassroots football. The Yongzhou team is not a professional team. The team members are composed of middle school students, physical education teachers, takeaway riders and other ordinary people. They perform their duties during the day and rely only on evening training to counterattack and win the championship. This “legend of ordinary people chasing dreams” is the charm of the Hunan Super League. With 98 fierce matches and over 2.3 million live spectators, the Hunan Super League took football out of the professional arena and became a carrier of local feelings and enthusiasm with the participation of all people. The senior Suzhou fans who sent the first billboard were moved by this pure love and used spontaneous actions to build a football bridge between Suzhou and Hunan. There was no official organization and no interest entanglements. Just their sincerity for football created a deep connection between people in unfamiliar cities.
The “competition across the air” between netizens in the three places is not about “richness and willfulness”, but the warmth of folk friendship. Netizens in Suzhou took the lead in paying tribute, netizens in Nanjing followed suit in a playful manner, and netizens in Taizhou responded cleverly by signing “Suzhou Super League Champions”. There was no tit-for-tat competition, only a sympathetic and playful interaction.
The local advertising company in Yongzhou only charges cost for production and installation, and the official attitude of understanding the personal behavior of netizens with an inclusive attitude adds to the warmth of the two-way going in this interaction. This spontaneous cross-regional connection breaks down geographical barriers and makes football no longer a carnival in a single city, but a link to convey goodwill and build consensus.
Behind this carnival is the quiet development of the grassroots ecology of Chinese football. For a long time, discussions about Chinese football have mostly focused on the ups and downs of professional leagues, while grassroots competitions such as the Hunan Super League and the Scottish Premier League are booming to fill the gap. When ordinary people can chase their dreams on the field, and when fans can convey their love in a fun way, Chinese football will have the most solid foundation.
From the grassroots counterattack of the Yongzhou team to the cross-border congratulations from Suxiang netizens, this football carnival has already surpassed the game itself. The charm of football is not only about the championship trophy, but also about allowing ordinary people to find a sense of belonging and allowing people in different cities to embrace each other out of love.
When grassroots events are seen and folk enthusiasm is respected, Chinese football no longer only has an unattainable dream, but also has warmth and strength within reach. May this kind of cross-border warmth last forever, and may the soil of grassroots football become more fertile, so that every love can shine on the green field.
“With such a good football atmosphere, it’s time for the national football team to cheer up.” This is what I want to say most at this moment. What I look forward to most is that professional football can take over this grassroots vitality and blood, so that Chinese football can shine in the World Cup as soon as possible.
Editor: Su Liang
First instance: He Jiajie
Second Instance: Zhang Jun
Third Instance: Zhou Wenbo
Source: Sanxiang Metropolis Daily
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