The Jiangsu Football City League kicked off its 2026 season on April 11 with a decisive 3-0 victory by Changzhou over last year's finalists Nantong. The home team's emphatic win at Changzhou Stadium marks a dramatic turnaround from their winless 2025 regular season campaign.
In a match that showcased renewed team coordination, Changzhou broke through in the 34th minute with a clinical penalty conversion. The hosts doubled their advantage immediately after halftime through a well-executed counterattack, before Tang Zengqi cemented the result with an 89th-minute strike.
This opening match sets the tone for what analysts predict will be one of China's most competitive regional football competitions this year, featuring 12 teams from Jiangsu province. The league serves as a crucial talent pipeline for China's national football development program.
