Preparations for the much-anticipated Northeast China Football League have entered the home stretch. All eight city representative teams are now in place, and the league’s organizational structure, competition regulations, and match schedule have all been finalized.
On April 27, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia jointly held a press conference for the 2026 Northeast China Football League to brief the public on preparations for the tournament. The regular season will run from May 23 to August 15, with each team playing the other seven teams once, either at home or away, for a total of 28 regular-season matches. On the opening day, May 23, the capitals of the four provincial-level regions will hold opening ceremonies as matches kick off simultaneously, further boosting the league’s visibility and spectator appeal. Each round will feature matches hosted across all four provincial-level regions, allowing fans to watch games close to home and cheer on their teams from the stands. In Liaoning, four home matches will be held at Shenyang Tiexi Stadium, and three at Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium.
Culture and tourism initiatives designed to benefit the public will also be rolled out alongside the tournament. Focusing on visitors’ diverse needs for match viewing, sightseeing, immersive experiences, and local spending, Liaoning will develop the “Super Tour of Northeast China” brand to energize sports, culture, and tourism across the region. Shenyang has designed six themed travel routes centered on football, historical culture, industrial heritage, leisure, and ecology. Dalian has also launched six themed “Super Tour of Dalian” routes and created an electronic map to guide tourists and football fans.
Liaoning will also launch off-site viewing venues, allowing fans to watch matches at bathhouses, over grilled skewers, while shopping, or at night markets. These venues will feature football-themed games, score-prediction activities, fan photo walls, and live video links with players, creating an energetic atmosphere that combines match viewing with local spending and making the tournament part of everyday life.
