2026 China League One

China League One
Season2026
Dates14 March – 7 November[1]
← 2025
2027 →

The 2026 C'estbon Chinese Football League 1 (Chinese: 2026怡寳中国足球甲级联赛) will be the 23rd season of China League One, the second tier of the Chinese football league pyramid, since its establishment in 2004.[2]

Summary

in 2022, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials launched an anti-corruption probe resulting in eight footballing officials being investigated for "suspected of violations of discipline and law".[3] In August 2024, former CCP Committee Secretary of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Du Zhaocai, pleaded guilty to accepting more than US$6.1 million in bribes.[4] On 10 September, CFA banned 38 players, including former nationals, Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and five officials for life over allegations of match-fixing and other forms of corruption.[5] Other players and officials were also given shorter five years bans.[5]

Four China League One clubs were also punished with fines and point deductions for the 2026 China League One.[6] Changchun Yatai was docked four points. Meizhou Hakka, Ningbo and Suzhou Dongwu were docked three points each.[7]

Clubs

Club changes

Stadiums and locations

Locations of the 2026 China League One teams
2026 China League One teams in Guangdong and Jiangxi
2026 China League One teams in Jiangsu
Team Head coach City Stadium Capacity 2025 season
Meizhou Hakka R Gino Lettieri Wuhua Huitang Stadium 27,000 CSL, 15th
Changchun Yatai R Yan Feng Changchun Development Area Stadium 23,400 CSL, 16th
Guangdong GZ-Power Feng Feng Guangzhou Yuexiushan Stadium 18,000 3rd
Yanbian Longding Lee Ki-hyung Yanji Yanji Stadium 30,000 4th
Shijiazhuang Gongfu Niu Hongli Shijiazhuang Yutong International Sports Center 38,000 5th
Jiangxi Dingnan United Mao Biao Dingnan Dingnan Youth Football Training Center 12,000 6th
Nantong Zhiyun Kim Dae-eui Rugao Rugao Olympic Sports Center 25,000 7th
Dalian K'un City Zhang Yaokun Dalian Jinzhou Stadium 30,776 8th
Shaanxi Union Henk Fraser Xi'an Xi'an International Football Center 60,235 9th
Suzhou Dongwu Sergio Zarco Díaz Suzhou Suzhou Sports Center 35,000 10th
Nanjing City Zhang Xiaofeng Nanjing Wutaishan Stadium 22,000 11th
Ningbo Zoran Janković Ningbo Ningbo Cixi Stadium (Cixi) 16,000 12th
Foshan Nanshi Zhang Xiaorui Foshan Nanhai Sports Center 20,000 13th
Shenzhen Juniors Ramiro Amarelle Shenzhen Bao'an Stadium 44,050 14th
Guangxi Hengchen P Liu Junwei Nanning Guangxi Sports Center 60,000 CL2, 1st
Qinzhou Sports Center (Qinzhou)
Wuxi Wugo P Kim Bong-gil Wuxi Jiangyin Sports Centre (Jiangyin) 30,161 CL2, 2nd
Yixing Sports Center (Yixing)

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Shaanxi Union Giovanni Franken[11] Mutual consent 8 November 2025 Pre-season Henk Fraser[12] 1 January 2026
Jiangxi Dingnan United Liu Jianye[13][14] Signed by Chongqing Tonglianglong 13 December 2025 Mao Biao[15] 14 December 2025
Dalian K'un City Qu Xiaohui[16] Sacked 14 December 2025 Zhang Yaokun[16] 14 December 2025
Shenzhen Juniors Zhang Jun[17] Mutual consent 22 December 2025 Ramiro Amarelle[18][19] 23 December 2025
Changchun Yatai Ricardo Soares[20] Mutual consent 31 December 2025 Yan Feng[21] 1 January 2026
Meizhou Hakka Qu Gang End of interim spell 26 January 2026 Gino Lettieri 27 January 2026

Foreign players

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Players name in italics indicates the player is out of squad or left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan players1 Naturalised players Reserves players Former players
Changchun Yatai Constantin Reiner Juan Camilo Salazar Ohi Omoijuanfo Clement Benhaddouche
Dalian K'un City Cyrille Bayala Kristoffer Normann Hansen Nyasha Mushekwi Wu Yen-shu Sabir Isah Musa
Foshan Nanshi Gabriel Bispo Rodney Antwi Mame Mor Ndiaye Nicholas Benavides
Guangdong GZ-Power Nikão Ousmane Camara Alexandru Tudorie Wang Chien-ming
Guangxi Hengchen Noel Mbo Rati Ardazishvili Loïc Lapoussin Yu Yao-hsing
Jiangxi Dingnan United Daciel Erikys Manuel Palacios Chen Po-liang → Marcel Petrov Tiago Fernandes
David Mateos
Meizhou Hakka Vinni Triboulet Théo Pellenard Patrick Popescu
Nantong Zhiyun Lucas Kal Aleksandar Kolev Aldo Kalulu Remi Dujardin → Xu Hui2
Nanjing City Robertinho Zé Vitor Jerome Ngom Mbekeli Wong Wai
Ningbo Léo Cittadini Leonardo Viv Solomon-Otabor Magno Cruz
Akinkunmi Amoo
Shaanxi Union Astrit Selmani Rayan El Azrak Daleho Irandust Ma Hei Wai
Shenzhen Juniors Rodrigo Henrique Paul Garita Rade Dugalić Leung Nok Hang
Shijiazhuang Gongfu Dominic Vinicius Higor Vidal Tyrone Conraad
Suzhou Dongwu Estrela
Wuxi Wugo Tarik Isić Nino Noordanus Nicolás Albarracín
Yanbian Longding Giovanny Felicio Brown Forbes Joaquim Domingos Vas Nuñez
  • ^1 For Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwanese players, if they are non-naturalised and were registered as professional footballers in Hong Kong's, Macau's, or Chinese Taipei's football association for the first time, they are recognised as native players. Otherwise they are recognised as foreign players.
  • ^2 Naturalised players whose parents or grandparents were born in mainland China, thus are regarded as local players.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Wuxi Wugo 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 6 Promotion to Super League
2 Guangdong GZ-Power 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 6
3 Yanbian Longding 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 4
4 Jiangxi Dingnan United 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
5 Nantong Zhiyun 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
6 Nanjing City 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
7 Dalian K'un City 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
8 Guangxi Hengchen 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
9 Shijiazhuang Gongfu 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
10 Shenzhen Juniors 2 1 0 1 1 4 −3 3
11 Suzhou Dongwu[a] 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 0
12 Shaanxi Union 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
13 Foshan Nanshi 2 0 0 2 2 5 −3 0
14 Ningbo[b] 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 −3 Qualification to Relegation play-offs
15 Meizhou Hakka[c] 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4 −3 Relegation to League Two
16 Changchun Yatai[d] 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 −4
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source:
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Rankings in the previous season. (Rules 2 to 4 are only applied when teams concerned have finished both/all the matches against others.)
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card = 3 points); 8) Drawing of lots.
    Notes:
  1. ^ Suzhou Dongwu had 3 points deducted for violation of sports ethics and loss of sportsmanship, engaging in improper transactions to seek illegitimate benefits.[22]
  2. ^ Ningbo had 3 points deducted for violation of sports ethics and loss of sportsmanship, engaging in improper transactions to seek illegitimate benefits.[22]
  3. ^ Meizhou Hakka had 3 points deducted for violation of sports ethics and loss of sportsmanship, engaging in improper transactions to seek illegitimate benefits.[22]
  4. ^ Changchun Yatai had 4 points deducted for violation of sports ethics and loss of sportsmanship, engaging in improper transactions to seek illegitimate benefits.[22]

Results

Home \ Away CCY DKC FSN GZP GXH JDU MZH NJC NTZ NIB SXU SZJ SJZ SZD WXW YBL
Changchun Yatai — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Dalian K'un City – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Foshan Nanshi – – — 2–3 – – – – – – – – – – – –
Guangdong GZ-Power – – – — – – – – – 2–0 – – – – – –
Guangxi Hengchen – – – – — – – – – 2–1 – – – – – –
Jiangxi Dingnan United – – – – 2–1 — – – 1–1 – – – – – – –
Meizhou Hakka – – – – – – — – – – – – – 1–2 – 0–3
Nanjing City 2–1 – – – – – – — – – – – – – – 0–0
Nantong Zhiyun – – – – – – – – — – – – 2–1 – – –
Ningbo – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – –
Shaanxi Union – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – –
Shenzhen Juniors – – – – – – – – – – 1–0 — – – – –
Shijiazhuang Gongfu 1–0 – – – – – – – – – – – — – – –
Suzhou Dongwu – 1–2 – – – – – – – – – – – — – –
Wuxi Wugo – – 2–0 – – – – – – – – 4–0 – – — –
Yanbian Longding – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Leader and promotion to Super League
Promotion to Super League
Qualification to Relegation play-offs
Relegation to League Two
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source:

Results by match played

Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source:
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

References

  1. ^ "中国足协公布2026赛季竞赛日历". www.thecfa.cn (in Chinese). 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  2. ^ "官方：华润饮料冠名新赛季中国三级联赛" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Prominent Sports Official Named In Xi Jinping's Chinese Football Corruption Investigation". 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Report outlines Xi's push for fair competition, more 'just' global sports order". South China Morning Post. 2024-08-28. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  5. ^ a b "China's Football Association bans 43 people for life after corruption investigation". AP News. 2024-09-10. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  6. ^ "China bans 73 people from soccer for life in latest anti-corruption controversy". AP News. 2026-01-29. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
  7. ^ "中国足球协会关于对有关涉案俱乐部及人员行业处罚情况的通报" (in Chinese). Chinese Football Association. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  8. ^ "广西恒宸4-1大胜长春喜都，提前5轮升入中甲，任康康梅开二度" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  9. ^ "中国足球职业联赛联合会关于对上海嘉定汇龙足球俱乐部变更注册会员协会进行公示的通知". www.csl-china.com (in Chinese). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  10. ^ "宁波足球俱乐部公布队徽：以"NB"为符号，暗含"出色、强劲"精神". news.zhibo8.com (in Chinese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  11. ^ "陕西联合官方：主帅乔瓦尼离任；本赛季率队获得中甲第9" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  12. ^ "官方：荷兰教练弗拉泽执教陕西联合；曾是张玉宁在荷甲的教练" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  13. ^ "官方：刘建业不再担任定南赣联主教练；据悉将执教重庆铜梁龙" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  14. ^ "官方：前国脚刘建业出任重庆铜梁龙主帅，新赛季将带队征战中超" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  15. ^ "官方：39岁毛彪出任中甲定南赣联主教练" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  16. ^ a b "大连鲲城官方：张耀坤出任总经理兼主帅，免去曲晓辉一切职务" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  17. ^ "深圳青年人官方：张军将不再担任俱乐部一线队主教练一职" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  18. ^ "国安官方祝福拉米罗：感谢，祝未来的工作和生活一切顺利" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 24 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  19. ^ "官方：原北京国安代理主帅拉米罗出任深圳青年人新帅" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  20. ^ "官方：苏亚雷斯不再担任亚泰主帅；25赛季他未能带队完成保级" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  21. ^ "官方：亚泰旧将阎峰出任长春亚泰主教练" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  22. ^ a b c d "中国足球协会关于对有关涉案俱乐部及人员行业处罚情况的通报" (in Chinese). Chinese Football Association. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
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