According to the Tianjin Sports Bureau, the Tianjin Sports Bureau and the Wellington Phoenix FC of New Zealand recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on partnership. Under the agreement, Tianjin and Wellington will take turns hosting the Sister Cities Cup soccer tournament starting in 2024. The first match will be held in Tianjin on September 7, 2024, when Tianjin Jinmen Tigers take on Wellington Phoenix.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on partnership was recently signed between the Tianjin Sports Bureau and the Phoenix Club of Wellington, New Zealand. Starting in 2024, the Sister Cities Cup soccer tournament will be held alternately in the cities of Tianjin and Wellington. Above photo courtesy of Tianjin Sports Bureau.
According to the news, at the beginning of 2024, Li Kemin, Director and Party Secretary of Tianjin Sports Bureau, led the relevant persons in charge of the Training and Competition Department of Tianjin Sports Bureau and Tianjin Football Association to travel to Wellington for in-depth exchanges on cooperation in soccer. In the presence of Wellington Mayor Torrey Fanao and Li Kemin, Wellington Phoenix Football Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on partnership with Tianjin Sports Bureau.
From 2024 onwards, a tournament named "Tianjin Jinmen Tigers Football Club and Wellington Phoenix Football Club Friendship City Cup" will be held. The tournament will alternate between Tianjin and Wellington each year, with the first match scheduled to be held in Tianjin on September 7, 2024, and then in 2025 the tournament will move to Wellington.
In addition, Tianjin's youth soccer team will travel to Wellington, New Zealand during the school holidays to participate in training and matches at the Phoenix International Academy training camp. As international friendly cities, Tianjin and Wellington will use sports to promote comprehensive cooperation and exchange.
Currently, Tianjin is actively building a strong sports city with a rich sports atmosphere. Tianjin Jinmen Tigers finished 8th in the 2023 Chinese Super League season and became the only team in the entire Chinese Super League to remain undefeated at home. They played 15 home matches with a total of 455,900 spectators, an average of more than 30,000 spectators per match, ranking 3rd in the country.New Zealand's Wellington Phoenix Football Club, on the other hand, is the only professional soccer club in New Zealand, who play in the Australian Premier League, and have a large influence and appeal in Wellington.
According to the report, Tianjin Sports Bureau and Wellington Phoenix FC will use sports as a bridge to promote exchanges and cooperation between Tianjin and Wellington, as well as between China and New Zealand, in a variety of fields, including economy, culture, sports and education, by organizing high-level soccer matches.
