ISF Football World Cup 2026 Opens in Suzhou
Oct. 18, Suzhou, China – The ISF Football World Cup 2026 officially opened on Sunday evening at the Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium, welcoming 51 school football teams from 31 countries and regions for a week of international competition, cultural exchange and friendship.
The Opening Ceremony brought together participating delegations, local authorities and spectators to celebrate the start of the event. ISF President Željko Tanasković addressed the gathering alongside Chen Dongsheng, Vice-President and Secretary-General of the Chinese University and School Sports Federation (FOCUSS), and Wang Wei, Mayor of Suzhou and Executive Vice-President of the Local Organising Committee. Shen Jianrong, Vice-Governor of Jiangsu Province, officially declared the event open.
Under the theme “We Are Together”, the ceremony combined Suzhou's rich cultural heritage with the energy of youth football. Performances featured elements of traditional Chinese football (Cuju), Kunqu Opera, Suzhou embroidery and the city's renowned garden culture, alongside contemporary music, dance and light displays. The parade of participating delegations celebrated the diversity of the teams gathered in Suzhou, while the event mascots, Susu and Yuanyuan, welcomed young athletes from around the world.
Following the ceremony, the opening match between China 1 and Czechia 2 played in front of 18,625 spectators. Czechia 2 achieved the very first goal of the whole event, before China 1 equalised with a diving header. China 1 went on to score three further goals in the second half, including efforts from Zhao Songyuan, the very first player in Chinese football history to be selected for the national team while still studying in high school, securing a 4–1 victory to open the tournament.
This 2026 edition features 35 boys' teams and 16 girls' teams, representing Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Competition continues from 19 to 25 October, with the boys' and girls' finals scheduled for 25 October at the Suzhou Sports Centre.
Beyond the football pitches, this world cup offers opportunities for international friendship and cultural discovery. More than 660 local volunteers were recruited to assist with the organization of the event, allowing them to provide hands-on support for an international competition held in their own city. 33 schools in Suzhou will be paired with visiting delegations for activities including school visits, football exchanges and experiences of local cultural traditions. Participants will also have opportunities to explore Suzhou's historical heritage and contemporary development through cultural programmes organised alongside the competition.
With the tournament now underway, Suzhou becomes a meeting point for young footballers from across the world, bringing together sporting ambition, education and international exchange through the shared language of football.
