A poster for the 2026 Zhejiang City Football League. [Photo provided to Zhejiang Daily]

The first round of the 2026 Zhejiang City Football League, branded as the Wuyue Cup after the ancient kingdom centered on present-day Zhejiang, will begin on April 6 at venues across the province, with the opening match scheduled for 3 pm at Jiaxing Sports Center Stadium, where the host team will face Quzhou.

Organized by the Zhejiang Football Association, the tournament will run through mid-June and feature 62 matches. From April 6 to late May, teams will compete in a single round-robin format under a home-and-away system, with each of the 11 city teams playing 10 matches. The top eight teams will advance to a knockout stage from late May to mid-June, culminating in the final.

All 11 cities in the province have entered teams. Of the league's 627 players, the average age is 24, while 74.6 percent are local players, and 44.6 percent are students.

The teams reflect different local football traditions. Hangzhou draws on the youth training system of Zhejiang FC and is known for technical, possession-based play, while Ningbo relies on a strong school football foundation and a more pragmatic style. Wenzhou, a pilot city for football reform, has shown solid youth training results, and Huzhou's squad is built mainly around grassroots players.

Players compete in the final of the 2026 Ningbo City Football League, a city-level qualifier for the Zhejiang City Football League, at Fenghua Sports Center in Ningbo on March 28. Yinzhou beat Jiangbei 2-1 to win the title. [Photo/IC]

Other teams also bring distinct identities. Jiaxing reflects the region's diverse football culture shaped by Yangtze River Delta integration, Shaoxing combines toughness and flexibility, and Jinhua is known for a physical style. Quzhou emphasizes teamwork, Zhoushan, the league's only island team, is noted for speed and mobility, Taizhou brings an enterprising style, and Lishui is built around solid defending and quick counterattacks.

Organizers are also planning related activities beyond the matches. Host cities across the province will stage events tied to food, markets, and cultural products during the tournament.

The tournament will adopt a public-friendly ticketing system, with standard tickets priced at 20 yuan ($2.90). Each participating city will also set up at least 20 secondary viewing venues, including commercial complexes, cinemas, teahouses, and bars, so residents who cannot enter the main stadium can still follow the matches.