Officials dismiss rumors of cunchao being canceled

The grassroots Village Super League, known as cunchao, is not canceled, despite online discussions following its disappearance from headlines last year and the recent surge of city-edition leagues in Jiangsu province.

The league's official Sina Weibo account dismissed those claims on Monday evening as "false information and malicious rumors," explaining that last week's suspension was simply "to ensure that the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, went smoothly."

In a statement signed by the organizing committee, officials highlighted the soccer tournament's rapid growth. They pointed out that between Jan 1 and May 5, more than 2.41 million fans attended matches — a year-on-year increase of 11.77 percent. They also emphasized the league's important role in fostering cooperation and exchange among local grassroots clubs.

Public doubts had grown stronger when the new Jiangsu Football City League debuted on May 10, with one team representing each of the province's 13 cities.

According to People's Daily, during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the third-round matches drew almost full-capacity audiences, even outperforming many China League One matches and some Chinese Super League games. Fans wondered why the once-viral rural competition in Guizhou province's Rongjiang county had gone silent online, with some declaring, "cunchao is dead."

Ouyang Zhangwei, the league's chief of communications, told China Daily that such claims are unfounded. "It's natural that attention shifts once a competition loses its novelty. In fact, the rural league has already thrived for three straight years."

The statement also pushed back against suspicions that the event has lost its grassroots character. Participation has steadily increased — from 20 village teams in 2023 and 62 in 2024, to 108 this year — all playing on the same fields. "Players' passion for this tournament has never been so strong before," officials said.

Highlighting the league's community impact, they noted that more than half of the county's 385,000 people joined as cheerleaders, bringing homemade food, handmade costumes and a festive spirit to visiting fans. "Villages have grown closer to each other thanks to the game," the statement added.

"Smiles on the faces of villagers, tourists and players alike are the best proof that cunchao hasn't lost its grassroots soul," Ouyang said. He added that the game's peak season runs from June through October and promised this year's new summer events will be well worth watching.

The committee expressed hope that similar regional competitions could help revive Chinese soccer. "We sincerely wish for even greater success of the Jiangsu league," it said. "We also look forward to more local tournaments blazing new trails, fueling their cities' passion for the sport, and strengthening China's soccer foundations."

"Future editions of the rural league may not always be the flashiest," Ouyang said, "but they will be more sustainable, and become a super-brand rooted in the people."