Challenges ensue as Super League season takes a turn for the worse
The latest report from Soccer Daily points out that the new season of the Chinese Super League has encountered unprecedented difficulties in the preparatory process, which undoubtedly brings great challenges to the smooth opening of China's top soccer tournament. It is reported that the investment issue has become the first problem, many companies have serious doubts about the commercial potential and money-absorbing ability of the Chinese Super League, and are no longer willing to invest on a large scale as in the past. Expectations of brand promotion have also been neutralized.
Of interest is the fact that longtime sponsor Ping An Group of China, whose contract is about to expire, has not offered to renew its contract. Despite repeated invitations from the Chinese Super League management, there has been no positive response so far. This phenomenon reflects the sponsor's cautious attitude towards the naming rights. It is not difficult to imagine that the next sponsor's attitude will be more subtle. At the same time, the actual dividends of the teams have also shrunk significantly. According to Soccer Daily, the teams' dividends may be reduced by more than 80% compared to a few years ago due to the impact of the decline in copyright and commercial value assessment.
Sharp drop in dividends puts pressure on club operations
This change has undoubtedly had a serious impact on the day-to-day operations of the clubs. There was a time when every club received at least $40 million in dividends from the season. However, at the end of this season, that figure could drop to a staggering 8 million dollars. From the bustling green fields to the poverty-stricken grassroots soccer, the whole industry has undergone a huge transformation, resembling the ups and downs of a roller coaster.
In such a difficult environment, large corporate clubs can still manage to stay afloat, but for small and medium-sized teams, staying alive seems especially difficult. At the end of the season, there were even rumors that some of the clubs might disband and quit the game, and the problem of insufficient number of teams became more and more serious. The names of teams such as Dalian and Chengdu appeared frequently in public opinion, and although this claim has not yet been confirmed, it is enough to see the plight of the clubs.
National Football League qualifying results, Chinese Super League windfalls
The Chinese national team's performance in the world qualifiers not only concerns its own fate, but also the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, as well as being an important weathervane for the Chinese Super League. If the national football team achieves good results against Thailand and South Korea, or even draws against them, the reputation of the Chinese Super League is expected to rebound. Conversely, a loss against South Korea would have a negative impact on the entire offseason program.
Therefore, in the upcoming matches, we expect the international players to give full play to their strengths and fight for this formidable opponent. This is not only to win for their country and add color to their domestic fans, but also to secure their careers.
