The Wuxi team lifts the trophy in celebration after being crowned champions of the 2026 Jiangsu Football City League. [Photo by Li Jiahua to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

Team Wuxi beat Team Changzhou 2-1 in the final of the Jiangsu Football City League, known as Suchao, to claim the championship on Oct 31 at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, in front of more than 62,000 spectators.

Lu Zeling put Wuxi ahead with a long-range strike in the 29th minute, and Liu Yuhao added a header in the 51st. Guo Jiatai pulled one back for Changzhou in the 83rd minute, but the team could not find an equalizer before the final whistle.

A Changzhou player takes a shot during the match. [Photo/VCG]

Wuxi finished top of the regular season table this year. The team maintained its momentum through the group stage and knockout rounds, and picked up wins over Xuzhou and defending champion Taizhou on the way to the final. The result marks a big step forward for Wuxi after finishing fourth in the first edition of Suchao last year.

Launched in 2025, Suchao has become a landmark grassroots football event in China, gathering teams representing all 13 cities in Jiangsu province. Most players compete alongside their regular jobs, making the league a showcase of local pride and community spirit rather than a competition built around substantial club investment. It has also set a benchmark for amateur football events nationwide.

More than 62,000 fans fill the stadium for the match. [Photo/VCG]

Starting from April 11, the league's second season spanned 204 days with 91 matches. It drew big crowds wherever games were played and showed how football can bring people together at the local level.