Exclusive | Asian Champions League Calendar and Format Pose Realistic Challenges as Chinese Super League Studies Cross-Year Schedule

The main-stage matches of the new season's AFC Champions League series are set to begin in September. The AFC's full implementation of a cross-year format has presented a number of practical challenges for member associations in arranging their league calendars. At present, most member associations in the West Asian region have already adopted a cross-year format, and Japan's J.League has also completed its transition. Meanwhile, FIFA international match windows are generally aligned with the European cross-year league system, making the mismatch between domestic league calendars and international competitions increasingly prominent.

The Beijing Youth Daily learned that, in response to development trends in Asian and global football, the China Football League, as the domestic professional league management body, recently worked through its legal department with experts in related fields to preliminarily formulate a feasibility assessment plan for a cross-year Chinese Super League format. The plan conducts systematic analysis, risk assessment and comprehensive evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of reform. It should be noted that the work is still in the research and demonstration stage and no mature implementation decision has been made. Based on various practical conditions, it is difficult for the CSL to adopt a cross-year format in the short term.

Early research aligned with global football development trends demonstrates a forward-looking approach to improvement.

Affected by the AFC's cross-year format, CSL clubs participating in the AFC Champions League have long faced the awkward situation of schedule disconnects: domestic leagues enter the off-season after concluding, while teams still need to compete in key AFC Champions League rounds; winter training systems are not yet fully prepared and competitive form has not reached its peak before teams are forced to face high-intensity continental competitions. This mismatch directly affects the continuity of players' competitive condition, hampers CSL teams' performances in Asian competitions, and creates a chain of consequences including losses in technical points and pressure on continental qualification slots. Conducting advance research on the format is a practical measure to address industry challenges, align with international competition rules and leave sufficient room for future professional reforms.

The prospects for adjustment are promising, but objective realities create constraints.

From a long-term development perspective, if the transition to a cross-year format can be completed smoothly, the CSL would fully remove schedule barriers with the AFC Champions League and international match windows. Clubs' ability to compete on multiple fronts would better match professional football patterns and have smoother coordination. National team preparation, as well as domestic and overseas player transfers and registration, would also align with international practices, bringing positive significance to improving league competitiveness, deepening football exchanges between China and other countries, and improving the professional system.

However, despite the positive prospects, the objective constraints brought by China's geography and climate cannot be avoided. The country has a vast territory and major differences between northern and southern climates. If the league adopts a cross-year format, northern regions such as North China and Northeast China would experience low temperatures and freezing conditions during the deep winter period from December to February, with frequent snowfall and cold waves. Northern home venues could face issues such as frozen pitches and damaged grass surfaces, seriously affecting match quality and flow while significantly increasing the risk of player injuries.

To ensure the standards and quality of winter matches, clubs in northern regions would need large-scale upgrades to heated natural grass systems and professional snow removal equipment, resulting in high venue renovation and maintenance costs. Many professional clubs currently face significant operational pressure and would find it difficult to bear large hardware upgrade expenses in the short term. Facility limitations have become a practical barrier that cannot be avoided in a short-term CSL format change.

Rushed implementation of a league format adjustment is not advisable.

A league format transition is far more than simply changing the start and end dates; it is a systematic project covering the entire industry. The CSL, China League One, China League Two, FA Cup and youth competitions at various levels all currently follow a calendar-year competition cycle. Player contracts, commercial sponsorship agreements, financial year settlements, and fan ticketing and membership systems are all built and operated around the calendar-year model.

Implementing a cross-year format requires simultaneous adjustments across the entire upstream and downstream chain of the league, involving key areas such as club operations, commercial partnerships, broadcasting, and youth development. It affects many stakeholders and has a broad scope, requiring sufficient transition time and ruling out any rushed implementation.

Thorough evaluation and steady progress are aligned with the league's actual situation.

The core value of the China Football League's special research on a cross-year format lies in forward planning and preparation rather than rushing implementation. Researching a proposal does not mean immediate rollout. Considering current venue conditions, club operating environments and industry support systems, the CSL does not yet have the conditions to implement a cross-year format in the short term. At this stage, competition organizers will continue optimizing schedules within the calendar-year framework, coordinating resources among parties and minimizing the pressure caused by AFC Champions League schedule conflicts.

In the future, after northern venues have comprehensively upgraded their facilities, club operating conditions have steadily improved, and industry-wide supporting mechanisms have matured, the league can then steadily advance format optimization at an appropriate time. This would be a scientific improvement path that matches the realities of Chinese football development.

Written by Beijing Youth Daily reporter Xiao Ran.

Edited by Zhou Chao.