Chinese U19 Championship
The Chinese U19 Football League, overseen by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), is the premier national competition for under-19 players across China. Featuring top youth teams from provinces and autonomous regions, it acts as a vital scouting ground for talents destined for the Chinese Super League or senior national team. Amid China's bold football development initiatives, backed by massive government investments in academies and infrastructure, the league has surged in importance over the past decade.
History and foundation
Launched in the 1990s amid football reforms, the championship hit its stride in the 2010s with CFA's youth focus. Shanghai SIPG U19's 2017 triumph launched Wei Shenju into the Super League spotlight. Notably, the 2020 edition ran in a Hainan bubble due to COVID-19, a regional first. Guangzhou Evergrande U19's 2019 win fed players into their Asian Champions League-winning senior side. Despite past corruption woes in the 2000s, it's now a stable talent pipeline.
Tournament format
Structured in two tiers: the top division (12-16 teams) plays a double round-robin, determining the champion and playoff qualifiers for top-4 spots. Bottom teams relegate to Division Two. The season spans March to November, with a summer break for heat. Playoffs feature top-4 knockouts, complemented by the parallel Chinese U19 FA Cup in elimination format.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 2.8, rising with attacking styles. Top scorers include Li Wei (35 goals in 2022 for Shandong Taishan U19) and Zhang Yufei (28 in 2021). Standouts: Guinea's Djigué Moukoné (ex-Beijing, now Super League), ex-U19 captain Wang Shengzhi (Wolves-bound), and midfielder Liu Shaozi, whose dribbling echoes Europe's rising stars.