ISF Conducts Inspection Visits to China Ahead of ISF WSC Volleyball 2025 and Football World Cup 2026
Oct. 30, Lausanne, Switzerland – In preparation for two upcoming major ISF events in China — the ISF U15 World School Volleyball Championship 2025 in Shangluo and the ISF Football World Cup 2026 in Suzhou — ISF representatives carried out a series of inspection visits earlier this month to review progress, meet with local authorities, and further strengthen cooperation with the China Student Sports Federation (CSSF) and the respective Local Organising Committees (LOCs).
The delegation, composed of ISF Sport Director Marko Petrič, ISF Event Director Uroš Savić and ISF Academy Coordinator Yewon You, was joined by Carlos Dias, ISF Technical Committee Presidents for Volleyball, and Justus Mugisha, ISF Technical Committee Presidents for Football. Their visits were supported by the China Student Sports Federation, as well as provincial and municipal education and sports authorities in Shaanxi and Jiangsu Provinces.
Shangluo: Final Preparations Underway for the ISF U15 World School Volleyball Championship 2025
From 13 to 14 October, the ISF team, accompanied by representatives of CSSF and the Shaanxi Student Sports Association, visited Shangluo City in northwest China to assess the final stages of preparation for the ISF U15 World School Volleyball Championship 2025, to be held this December.
The inspection covered all key operational and service areas, including competition venues, training facilities, accommodation and catering, medical support, and cultural and educational activity sites. The delegation visited the National Volleyball Training Base, Shangluo Sports Centre, Shangluo Vocational and Technical College Sports Hall, Dihua Cultural and Tourism Park, and other designated venues such as Fuli Hua International Hotel, Shangzhou High School, and Shangluo Central Hospital.
The ISF experts expressed strong satisfaction with the city’s readiness and organisation, acknowledging Shangluo’s deep cultural heritage, excellent facilities, and strong volleyball tradition. “Shangluo has demonstrated professionalism and enthusiasm in its preparation,” noted the ISF delegation. “We are confident this event will become a celebration of youth, sport, and cultural exchange.”
During the two-day visit, the ISF delegation also held a series of coordination meetings with local departments and organisers on competition management, logistics, accreditation, cultural activities, and event promotion. All parties reaffirmed their commitment to delivering a safe, high-quality, and memorable event in line with ISF standards.
Suzhou Launched One-Year Countdown Ceremony for the ISF Football World Cup 2026
Following the Shangluo inspection, the ISF delegation travelled east to Suzhou, where preparations are advancing for the ISF Football World Cup 2026. The visit included site inspections and coordination meetings with the Suzhou Education Bureau, Suzhou Sports Bureau, and Suzhou Cultural Investment Development Group.
On 18 October, ISF officials attended the One-Year Countdown Ceremony for the event, held at the Jinji Lake Convention Centre, hosted by the Suzhou Municipal Government and the LOC. The ceremony was attended by over 150 guests, including ISF and CSSF officials, representatives from national and provincial education and sports departments, city leaders, and media.
In his remarks, Mr. Wu Xuxiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, highlighted Suzhou’s strong youth football foundation and readiness to host the global event, “Suzhou has always placed great importance on the development of student sports. We are committed to presenting a world-class event of youth, unity, and friendship.” he said.
The event also marked the official launch of the event’s digital communication platform, as well as global calls for the official song, emblem, mascot, and slogan of the championship — key milestones in building public participation and international visibility.
Through these visits, the ISF strengthened collaboration with its Chinese partners, ensuring both events — Shangluo 2025 and Suzhou 2026 — are firmly on track. The inspections reaffirmed the shared commitment of ISF, CSSF, and local organisers to deliver high-quality international school sport events that combine sporting excellence, educational value, and cultural exchange — continuing ISF’s mission to enrich education through sport across all continents.
