‘Su Super League’: Why does China fall for a football league without stars?

This week, Sideline Story dives into China's viral grassroots football sensation—the Jiangsu Football City League, or the “Su Super League”. Forget European giants; this summer, Jiangsu province became football's unlikely epicenter with a 13-city showdown where pros play alongside amateurs, tickets sell out in minutes and regional pride turns every match into a cultural derby. We explore why a league without superstars packed stadiums, how Jiangsu’s unique ‘scattered’ identity fuels fierce rivalries, and whether this model can redefine sports tourism in China.