Going into the third round of the tournament, the Chinese Super League's rule of only being able to field two foreign aiders has provided a degree of shelter for the national teams. However, Guangzhou, Wuxi Wuhu and Suzhou Dongwu are expected to face a negative impact, after all, in the League and FA Cup, they are the opponents of the Chinese team, while Shanghai Harbor, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Meizhou Hakka enjoy the privilege of fielding two foreign aiders.
While Beijing Guoan, Shanghai Shenhua, Shenzhen, Henan, Chengdu Chengdu five teams will not be able to utilize the advantage of foreign players when facing opponents such as Zibo Qisheng, Yunnan Yukun, Nantong Haimen Kotanyi, Hunan Xiangtao and Chongqing Tongliang Dragon. Nonetheless, Chinese Super League teams are not explicitly restricted from using naturalized players and players from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, so teams with these players may be able to use them to their advantage. In the case of Chengdu Chengdu, for example, Ackerson and Zhou Dingyang are two strong players.
The "Chengdu-Chongqing Dialogue" and "Southwest Derby" between Chengdu Rongcheng and Chongqing Tongliang Dragons will undoubtedly attract a lot of attention. Chongqing Tongliang Dragons team not only has Wu Qing, Huang Xiyang, Zhao Hejing, Xiang Yuwang and other veterans and rookies, but also Chen Kerui, Chen Jiaqi, Hu Yongfa and other strength and experience of the players, their arrival undoubtedly to Chengdu Rongcheng brought a huge challenge.
It is worth mentioning that Chongqing Tongliang Dragons have been in the spotlight in the 2023 season of the China B League, currently leading the South Zone standings with Yunnan Yukun with 10 points. Both of these two powerful Chinese B teams have broken into the third round of the FA Cup (Yunnan Yukun's opponent is Shanghai Shenhua), and it is worth waiting to see if they can become dark horses.
It is reported that the third round of the tournament will take place from June 23 to 25, coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The schedule of matches will be announced soon. In addition, if the two sides are tied within 90 minutes, they will go straight to a penalty shootout.
