While arranging the admission of clubs and designing the fixtures for professional leagues at all levels for the new season, the preparatory teams of the CFA and the CFL have also accelerated other preparations for the opening of the league. It is understood that inspired by the full resumption of the home and away system for the new season's Chinese Super League and other tournaments, a number of clubs, including Wuhan Sanzhen and Chengdu Rongcheng, have expressed their bids for the opening and unveiling matches of the new season's Chinese Super League to the organizers of the tournament in different forms. According to the CFA's game plan, the Super Cup will resume this year. The date of the match is initially scheduled for April 8, a week before the start of the new Chinese Super League season. Currently, Suzhou and Wuhan have confirmed their participation in the bid.
Opening and closing times of leagues at all levels
Not yet confirmed
At the 2023 Xianghe Meeting of Heads of Professional Football Clubs held on the 7th, the preparatory team of the CFL informed and interpreted the relevant policies (adjustments and additions) of all levels of the league in 2023 to the domestic three-tier professional clubs. As the deadline for the submission of club admission materials for the new professional league season is March 3 and the admission process ends on March 20, some Chinese Super League clubs are in danger of financial or debt crises, failing to gain admission or withdrawing from the league. As a result, the opening and closing times of the leagues at all levels cannot be confirmed while the size of the leagues (number of teams) at all levels cannot be confirmed.
More than five clubs
Expression of interest in hosting the opening ceremony
However, much to the relief of clubs and fans alike, after three consecutive uncharacteristically difficult seasons, the Chinese Super League and Chinese League One are scheduled to return to a full home-and-away format in the 2023 season, meaning the tournaments will once again attract fans to watch matches. Judging from the popularity of the high-quality matches delivered in the final stages of the Chinese Super League in Chengdu and Wuhan last season, fans are enthusiastic and looking forward to watching professional soccer matches live. The popularity of domestic professional club matches can be expected in the new season.
It is understood that during the Xianghe meeting, Liu Jun, chairman of the Chinese Super League Company, which is responsible for the business development of the Chinese Super League as the deputy head of the preparatory group of the Chinese Football League, told the representatives of the Chinese Super League clubs that they could apply for the opening ceremony and unveiling match of the new Chinese Super League season through normal channels.
In fact, as early as the end of last season's Chinese Super League, Chengdu Rongcheng FC, which is located in the new Phoenix Hill Professional Football Stadium, expressed its willingness to host the opening ceremony of the new Chinese Super League season. It is reported that five have already expressed similar wishes to the tournament organizers in different forms, including 2022 CSL champion club Wuhan Sanzhen, veteran club Beijing Guoan, promotion horse Qingdao Hainiu, Dalian People's Club and Shanghai FC.
It is worth noting that there are many interesting points to look forward to in the new season of the Chinese Super League, in addition to fans returning to the stands, including many of the tournament districts, and many of the music departments are new, with international first-class hardware. For example, the already operational Phoenix Hill professional soccer stadium in Chengdu, the Beijing Workers Stadium, the new SAIC Pudong soccer stadium, the Barracuda Bay Stadium in Dalian, and the Qingdao Youth Soccer Stadium, which were initially intended as replacement stadiums for the 2023 Asian Cup zones. Players, coaches, referees and fans will each receive a high-quality playing and viewing experience at these professional soccer stadiums with technologically advanced, modernized facilities, clearly delineated zones and high capacity.
It should be noted that tournament organizers must implement strict application procedures when choosing the opening ceremony of professional leagues at all levels for the new season, and all intended applicants for the music sector must apply in writing to the tournament organizers through official channels and seek the views of local soccer sports management and other relevant government departments.
First round of the new season
Expected to take place in mid-April
It is understood that according to the initial schedule, the new season of the Premier League is scheduled to begin in mid-April and the first round is expected to be held from April 14th to 16th. The opening ceremony and inauguration could be scheduled for Saturday, April 15th. Organizers also plan to revive the Super Cup this year. Match dates are usually scheduled a week before the start of the Super League, so the date could be scheduled for April 8th.
In January 2019, the CFA confirmed through official channels that the next three Super Cups would be held at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Center. However, due to objective factors, the tournament has been suspended for three consecutive years after one session was held that year. Whether or not the previous agreement between the two parties will continue to be implemented has yet to be officially confirmed. So far, the Suzhou Region and the Wuhan Region, home of Chinese Super League champions Wuhan Sanzhen, have expressed their willingness to apply. The CFA's competition department will also issue a call for applications in the near future.
