The much-anticipated third Liaoning City Football League will kick off in Shenyang on August 27. The opening ceremony will be held simultaneously across four host cities on September 19, with the final set for November 7.
The tournament will be held in three stages, comprising the regular season, a play-in round, and the knockout stage. Online selection events for football commentators and masters of ceremonies (MC) will also be held during the tournament to enhance the fan experience.
The Liaoning City Football League is a home-and-away competition featuring city-based teams formed through grassroots selection. It is characterized by regional openness, a high level of competition, cross-sector integration, and broad public participation. Open to players aged 14 to 40, the league combines broad public participation with professional competition and encourages local players to compete. The championship will be decided in a single-match final, adding to the intensity of the title race. Alongside the matches, the league will feature city showcases, cultural and entertainment performances, cultural and creative markets, football carnivals, and other activities, creating new consumption scenarios that integrate culture, sports, tourism, and commerce.
The third Liaoning City Football League will serve as the Liaoning qualifier for the 2027 Northeast City Football League, strengthening coordination between the two competitions. For player development, it will help cities across Liaoning select and prepare players for their teams in the Northeast City Football League, providing grassroots players with a pathway from provincial to regional competition. For the integration of culture, sports and tourism, the Liaoning City Football League will adopt established practices from the Northeast City Football League, including ticket-stub promotions, cross-city collaboration and unified event standards. The two competitions will also share promotional reach and merchant networks, while sharing event-service resources and commercial opportunities.
