Football (Soccer)

Although China is unlikely to win international football medals or competitions, football is a very popular sport with many fans around the country.

Football is played in primary schools, middle schools and colleges all over the country. School football tournaments at district and city levels are held every year. During the summer holiday there are football tournaments for the community football teams held in different cities. Recently, five-a-side football has become very popular in colleges and adults.

The Chinese professional football league has two divisions. The top division is called the Chinese Super League. The second division is called the Chinese Football league.

There are three Chinese players playing in England. They are Sun Jihai who plays at Premiership club Manchester City, Zheng Zhi who plays at the Championship club Charlton, and Dong Fangzhuo is playing at Manchester United. No Chinese football players play in US and Australia so far. There is a basketballer player, Yao ming in the NBA.

European clubs often play football in China in the summer. Manchester United, Barcelona played games in China in the summer of 2007. These photos are of a Manchester United versus Beijing match.