The 43rd "Baidui Cup" Football Tournament concluded in Beijing, drawing over 20,000 young players from 1,481 teams, a record turnout in recent years. Established in 1984, this youth tournament is one of China's longest-running amateur football events, and this year it introduced a novel "two-track" system, splitting participants into Popularization and Competitive groups to cater to different skill levels and objectives.
The Popularization Group, open to all young enthusiasts, emphasizes "joyful participation and free team formation." It spans 14 age categories, from 6-year-olds to high school students. In the youngest category, no rankings are recorded, and all participants receive awards, aiming to foster a love for the game and expand the grassroots base. Meanwhile, the Competitive Group is designed for professional club youth academies, sports schools, and school teams, covering 10 age categories from 8 to 17. This group provides high-level competition to refine the talent selection mechanism for reserve players.
A representative from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau noted that the "two-track" system marks the Baidui Cup's evolution from a standalone amateur event into a comprehensive youth tournament system that equally values participation and excellence. This model offers a valuable reference for improving the youth football competition framework.
The tournament featured notable figures, including international referee Fu Ming, who officiated at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and took charge of Competitive Group matches. He encouraged the young players with the advice: "Win on the condition that you enjoy the game." Shao Jiayi, the tournament's image ambassador and head coach of the Chinese men's national football team, presented awards and urged the children to compete with courage.
For many, the Baidui Cup is more than a competition. A post-80s football enthusiast, who participated as a child and now coaches a team, described it as "Beijing's very own 'World Cup' for its children." The event has become a cherished summer memory for generations of Beijing residents and a cultural touchstone of the city's sports identity.
