Passion ignites at opening of Bay Area Football Championship League

The inaugural Bay Area Football Championship League, part of the Shenzhen Subdistrict Super League, opened Saturday at the Longgang Bantian Shangxue Science Park. Shenzhen Xingmeng Team and 37 Interactive Entertainment delivered a spirited opening match, highlighting the area’s “culture + technology” appeal.

As a flagship competition of the Shenzhen Subdistrict Super League, the tournament draws eight top amateur teams from Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, and other cities, and boasts over 50 retired professional players.

Running through April 26, the event spans eight match days with a total prize pool of 160,000 yuan (US$22,064)

Since its debut in 2023, the Shenzhen Subdistrict Super League has emerged as a dynamic platform for grassroots football, steadily expanding its influence across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The opening match of the inaugural Bay Area Football Championship League — part of the Shenzhen Subdistrict Super League — kicks off Saturday in Longgang. Now in its third year, the league blends football, cultural exchange, and public service, expanding its reach into counties, townships, and villages across and beyond the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Photos by Liu Xudong