2026 League Policy Analysis: Increase of 0.5 Relegation Spots in China League One, Super League B Teams Allowed to Promote to League One

Reported by Chen Yong On the afternoon of February 4, the Chinese Football Association issued the "Notice on Policies Related to the 2026 Professional Football League Season" to all professional clubs. The Super League policies remain largely unchanged, while two key policies target League One and League Two: the relegation spots in League One have changed from 2 to 2.5, and Super League B teams can now advance to League One. The former aims to intensify competition in League One, and the latter focuses on youth player development, bringing unprecedented changes to League One and League Two in the 2026 season.

The core objective of this policy is to enhance the quality of matches in League One and to further raise its level. For Chinese football currently, the standard of League One has long been a concern. For a long time, League One was stagnant—for example, the 2022 promoted team Haigang was a newly promoted League One team; in 2023, the promoted Xihai'an was only in its second year in League One; and in 2024, both Yingbo and Yukun, who earned promotion, were newly promoted League One teams that year. It can be said that many League One clubs were listless at that time, with widespread salary arrears issues.

By the 2025 season, the situation improved, and the battle for promotion was fiercely competitive. With the introduction of 2.5 relegation spots in League One, although the increase is only 0.5, it likely puts more than half of the League One teams at risk of relegation. This pressure naturally translates into more intense matches.

Of course, this does not fundamentally solve the quality issues in League One, but such optimization and stimulation help enhance the League One brand. If the commercial development of the three-tier professional leagues sees significant progress, the overall health of the leagues will improve accordingly, leading to a more stable and orderly competition environment.

The controversial point of this policy lies in the playoff between the third-last team in League One and the third-place team in League Two. According to convention, the higher-level league team must align with the lower-level league team, meaning League One teams are not allowed to field foreign players. Thus, a League One team relying heavily on foreign players throughout the season would face a tough challenge against a League Two team composed entirely of domestic players.

Considering this controversy and from a long-term perspective, it is necessary to expand League One to 18 teams and implement a direct relegation and promotion system with three teams moving up or down.

The original intention of this policy is to further develop the system introduced in the 2024 season where Super League B teams compete in League Two, giving young players a bigger stage. However, even if a B team qualifies for League One, the rule that a single club cannot have two teams competing in the same level of professional league still applies (for example, if the first team is relegated, the B team cannot promote to League One even if it qualifies), and B teams are not allowed to transfer their participation rights independently.

The participation of Super League clubs' B teams in professional leagues has sparked much debate. Opponents mainly focus on the interests of professional clubs, while supporters emphasize the growth of young players. This policy clearly benefits youth national teams, such as the outstanding 2005 U-20 national team, where five starters from the Taishan club played for the B team in League Two. In fact, many U23 national team players have also developed through League Two. Against this backdrop, the Chinese Football Association ultimately introduced this policy.

Setting aside the controversy, it is foreseeable that the 2026 League Two season will be more competitive. For B teams, the difference between being allowed or not allowed to promote to League One is a huge motivator. Additionally, considering factors like funding and facilities, and with many Super League clubs training players as young as 16 or 17, the five Super League B teams may not fully commit to promotion but rather focus on developing young players while assessing promotion opportunities.

Regarding the controversy and the relationship between the U20 (U21) leagues and League Two, a more reasonable approach might be to continue expanding League Two, though there has been no expansion for two seasons and the next expansion is unlikely before 2028; meanwhile, League One should expand to at least 18 or 20 teams, making it easier to accept B teams' promotion. Since the rules are already in place, it is also acceptable to consider continuous expansion of League Two, League One, and the Super League. Furthermore, B teams' participation in professional leagues should undergo stricter qualification reviews, with rigorous rules on finances and facilities.

Other policies announced include changes to the Super League foreign player rule from 6-5-5-5 to 6-6-5-5 (allowing registration of 6 foreign players in the first half of the season, but this reduces flexibility in the winter transfer window), which generally has little impact on clubs; an additional assistant coach position in League Two specifically for coaches with at least three years of youth training experience, encouraging coaching in youth development; and the reinstatement of a deposit system in League Two to ensure smooth and orderly participation.

Notably, aside from top clubs in member associations' premier leagues, city league teams can connect to the Champions League in the 2026 season, provided they first establish a club and register to compete.