Taiwan. President's Cup. Women
The Taiwan President's Cup for women's teams is a prestigious national knockout tournament run by the Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA). It features top clubs and youth squads from the island, spotlighting the rise of women's soccer in a landscape long dominated by men's games. The competition highlights Taiwan's investments in female football infrastructure and talent nurturing.
History and foundation
Launched in the late 1980s to boost football's popularity, the inaugural edition kicked off in 1987. The Chinese Taipei women's national team dominated the 1990s, securing multiple titles fueled by pioneer Chen Shu-yun. Reforms in the 2000s expanded participation, and the 2010 final drew a record 5,000 fans. COVID-19 paused play in 2020–2021, but the 2022 revival saw National Taiwan Sport University claim victory amid renewed excitement.
Tournament format
It's a straight knockout format with 8–12 teams, including league champions, cup winners, and elite youth sides. Matches occur on neutral venues in Taipei and Kaohsiung, spanning two months with weekly fixtures. Semifinals and the final use extra time and penalties for edge-of-seat drama.
Interesting facts
Average goals per game stand at 2.8, rising with dynamic youth play. All-time top scorer Li Yun-jun netted 24 goals (2015–2023). Standouts include Chen Hsiu-yun's hat-trick in the 2018 final and current national team star Zhang Xingyue, whose dribbling and vision propel attacks. The Cup has launched careers abroad in Japan and Australia.