Poster: China allocates 500 mln yuan to boost campus football

China has recently earmarked 500 million yuan (about 73 million U.S. dollars) in central budget incentive funds to support campus football development across the country, the Ministry of Finance said on May 14, 2026.

The funding will support 41,000 primary and junior secondary schools featuring football programs nationwide in conducting football training, competitions and related activities, according to the ministry.

For the 2025-2026 period, the central government has allocated a total of 1 billion yuan from the central budget to support and guide local authorities in scaling up campus football initiatives, the ministry noted.

The ministry added that it will continue to guide local authorities to optimize spending structures to ensure smooth delivery of campus football training and competitions, help identify and cultivate football talent, and promote the sport's development in China.

The number of registered young football players in China has reached 109,200, up 24.88 percent over the past two years, according to data released by the Chinese Football Association in January.