The decisive battle in Xi'an! After a 9-year hiatus, the national team tournament returns, marking the "third milestone" in the development of Xi'an football.

Chief reporter Chen Yong reports. As Dalian Suoyu Bay repeatedly welcomed over 60,000 fans, as Beijing Workers' Stadium continuously sold out with massive Tifo displays that amazed the nation, as Chengdu Phoenix Mountain was always sold out, and as Shanghai Stadium also began to buzz with excitement, the football fans of Shaanxi and Xi'an—known as the "Northwest Wolves"—have been eagerly anticipating similar moments.

It is heartening that this early autumn season, with the official opening of the Xi'an International Football Center and the upcoming U23 Asian Cup qualifiers about to kick off in Xi'an, the city’s football has overcome bitterness, confusion, and reflection to fully develop. A brand-new historic opportunity has arrived.

We can even say this marks the third milestone in Xi'an football’s recent development: In May 2023, Shaanxi United Football Club launched a membership system, becoming a typical case in Chinese professional club memberships—this was the first milestone; on December 31, 2024, Xi'an signed with the Chinese Football Association to become a regional youth training center, cementing its status as a key football hub—this was the second milestone; and now, with the return of the national team tournament after nine years and the official opening of a professional football stadium, we reach this moment.

Step by step, milestone by milestone, we believe that the future of Xi'an football will ultimately fulfill the hopes of its fans.

Many Xi'an fans still remember the evening of April 22, 2001, when the national team defeated the Maldives 10-1 at the Shaanxi Provincial Stadium. They recall the past fervor and the big win, but perhaps even they did not realize that this match was the starting point of China’s only journey into the FIFA World Cup finals: it was the first match of the first round of the 2002 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

At that time, fans had high expectations: the national team’s more than 40 shots failed to satisfy them, even scoring 10 goals wasn’t enough, and the single goal conceded—actually the opponent’s only shot—left some fans unhappy. Coach Milu had not yet become legendary and was still under intense media scrutiny.

My personal memories of the national team in Xi'an begin in 2012, when China drew 1-1 with Ghana here; in November 2013, China beat Indonesia 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Asian Cup qualifiers, with the 1-0 win over Indonesia being the second qualifying match after a 1-1 away draw in the first game; in 2014, China played a friendly against Honduras in Xi'an that ended 0-0. These matches easily get lost among many other A-level games.

Then on March 29, 2016, after more than a decade without a loss in Xi'an, the national team secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Qatar, advancing narrowly to the final 12 of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Since then, Xi'an has been considered a lucky ground for Chinese football.

I vividly remember that game: after the match, everyone rushed to the national team’s hotel. Wu Lei, who scored the decisive goal, happily came downstairs for interviews, while other players strolled in the lobby, chatting casually. Their cheerful laughter echoed through the night sky of Xi'an.

If memories of the 2016 Xi'an matches ended there, it might have been perfect. However, Xi'an also hosted the third game of the final 12 stage: after losing 2-3 away to South Korea and drawing 0-0 at home with Iran in Shenyang, China lost 0-1 to Syria on October 6 in Xi'an, ending the unbeaten streak. This defeat partly reflected internal issues in the Football Association: distrust of coach Gao Hongbo and reluctance to change coaches early in the qualifiers, despite secret talks with Lippi. Five days later in Tashkent, Gao Hongbo resigned at the post-match press conference. Lippi’s arrival initially raised hopes, but his despairing farewell plunged Chinese football into sadness.

In recent years, Xi'an has hosted few national team matches; in nine years, only a 2018 U23 friendly against Syria ended 1-1, which was not an official national team competition. Yet, every time the national team selects venues, fans mention Xi'an, likely because memories of the national team here run deep. Now with the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers returning, is the national team’s full comeback far behind?

The national team’s return won’t be far off, so will Xi'an fans soon see professional league matches at the Xi'an International Football Center? There’s no exact answer yet, but we are confident it won’t be long.

On the evening of July 10, the "Bring Women’s Football Home" national women’s elite competition was held at the Xi'an Olympic Sports Center outer field. During the game, the reporter glanced at the adjacent pitch: about ten coaches were training over 100 children. After the match, passing another five-a-side field, several coaches were training more than 20 kids. That night, the sunset in Xi'an was beautiful, and the reporter thought, the future of Xi'an football must be bright as well.

This may not be the final answer, but it is better than one.

On September 14, 2022, Xi'an was named a national key city for football development. Since 2024, Xi'an has been making comprehensive efforts, breaking new ground in various football initiatives. Especially on December 31, 2024, Xi'an signed an agreement with the Chinese Football Association to jointly build a high-level national football talent base, becoming a regional youth training center. This signifies the CFA’s strong endorsement of Xi'an’s football growth and marks a turning point.

In 2025, Xi'an’s football development accelerated fully: districts like Xixian New Area, Economic Development Zone, Qujiang New Area, High-tech Zone, Chanba International Port, and Aerospace Base began establishing district-level youth training centers; focusing on talent selection from U10 to U15, Xi'an evaluated 508 players in the first half of the year, selecting 24 elite male and 27 elite female players, plus 23 outstanding male and 37 outstanding female players; the 2025 Xi'an Youth Football League set up 10 age groups, with U8 and U9 playing home-and-away matches, currently the best model in Chinese school football competitions.

Currently, Shaanxi Province and Xi'an City are fully implementing the spirit of the July 31 national football work conference, continuing to accelerate construction of youth training centers at all levels, promoting regional youth centers, and speeding up development of youth, especially elite youth football. The Xi'an Sports Bureau emphasizes that all work is not just about facilities and personnel, but about improving mechanisms, ensuring implementation, and making every step solid.

Against this backdrop, Xi'an is hosting the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers. Although not a top-tier international event, this small step, combined with the debut of the Xi'an International Football Center, carries great significance.

Xi'an fans may still feel a bit anxious, but analyzing from multiple perspectives—including the nation’s strong focus on football, Xi'an’s rapid development and dedication, and the passionate football culture in many provinces and cities—we can outline a simple logic:

(1) At the Xi'an football level, the city is a national football key city, a regional youth training center, with comprehensive youth football development, booming professional football enthusiasm, the return of international matches after nine years, and the long-awaited professional stadium in use. Isn’t it inevitable that professional football and the stadium will soon come together?

(2) From the regional strategic perspective, considering the strategic needs of Xixian New Area and Fengdong New City construction, what reason is there not to build a brand-new Xi'an football center to maintain steady foot traffic?

(3) Considering the national emphasis and requirements, as well as the fervent football passion in various provinces and cities—including professional and grassroots football—how could Xi'an remain uninvolved?

The trend is clear: Xi'an achieving professional leagues plus a professional stadium, even top-tier leagues plus a professional stadium, is not far off. Of course, obstacles still need to be overcome step by step, but these can ultimately be conquered given the momentum. Naturally, fans must also respond with rationality and restraint.

The Xi'an International Football Center wrote in "A Letter to All Fans": Xi'an International Football Center is ready! This is the new home to continue the glory of the "Holy Vermilion Bird," the battlefield to recreate brilliance with the spirit of the "Northwest Wolves." We invite Shaanxi fans to return with memories of the "Wolf’s Howl," let the warmth of faith continue here, and let new legends be written.

For this U23 Asian Cup qualifier, officials cannot yet invite fans to "come experience your home ground first," but we believe that in the near future, all this will become reality.