The 26th "Beibei Cup" Youth (U12 Boys) Football Tournament 2025 opens Wednesday in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, July 16, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CSCLF]

The 26th "Beibei Cup" Youth (U12 Boys) Football Tournament 2025 kicked off Wednesday in Fenghuang town, Zhangjiagang city, Jiangsu province, with nearly 300 young players from China and abroad participating in a week of competition and cultural exchange.

Li Bin, vice chairwoman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation chairperson, opens the 26th "Beibei Cup" Youth (U12 Boys) Football Tournament 2025 in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, July 16, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CSCLF]

The tournament, co-hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), the Chinese Football Association (CFA), and the Zhangjiagang Municipal People's Government, was opened by Li Bin, vice chairwoman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and CSCLF chairperson.

Shen Beili, secretary of the CSCLF Party Leadership Group and CSCLF vice chairperson, emphasized the "Beibei Cup's" enduring legacy since its inception in 1983. She highlighted its role in providing a key platform for young football enthusiasts to develop their skills, pursue their aspirations, and build vital life skills like teamwork and resilience.

Han Wei, secretary of the Zhangjiagang Municipal Party Committee, emphasized the city's commitment to youth football. He noted the tournament's role in nurturing young talent for national teams and expressed Zhangjiagang's goal to innovate youth football development. The aim, he stated, is to transform "Beibei Football" into a hub for cultivating young players' dreams, a center for international youth football cultural exchange, and an "international sports calling card" for the city.

The tournament runs from July 16 to 22, featuring 48 matches among 16 teams. Participants include top youth squads from 12 Chinese provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, as well as teams from South Korea and Thailand. Two foreign teams — Ulsan from South Korea and Muangthong United from Thailand — are making their debut appearances, highlighting the tournament's expanding international reach.

Beyond the competition, the event will also host an elite youth coaching training course and an elite player training camp, expanding investment in young football talent development.

The opening ceremony featured performances by young people from Beijing and Zhangjiagang, showcasing traditional Chinese arts, including a Chinese drum show, chorus, traditional opera exercises, and a children's medley of Heyang folk songs, designated as national intangible cultural heritage. The ceremony concluded with Chinese and international young players joining together to sing the tournament's theme song, "Dream Chasing Youth."

Following the ceremony, a team from Zhejiang competed against the Beibei in an exhibition match. CFA Vice Chairman Yang Xu performed the ceremonial kickoff. Former "Beibei Cup" players Zhao Junzhe and Yang Chen, alongside Chinese Super League players Zuo Junjie and Xiao Xuhui, joined the young athletes on the field, providing a live coaching session for the young football stars.