The 2026 Jiangsu Football City League, also known as Suchao, kicked off to high popularity on the evening of April 11, with the Nantong team facing the Changzhou team at the Changzhou Sports Stadium. 

To support the Nantong team, the Yunqi Camp in Haimen district was transformed into a live viewing venue as thousands of fans gathered. 

A market with traditional food and energy stations was crowded, and interactive games like dart soccer and penalty shootouts allowed residents to experience the joy of soccer in advance. 

As night fell, a 1.5-meter glowing soccer ball slowly ascended, with the creative cloud kickoff ceremony pushing the on-site atmosphere to a climax. Electronic music and soccer-themed performances took the stage following the ceremony, and the interactive quiz segment was filled with laughter, fully igniting pre-match excitement. 

A 1.5-meter soccer ball ascends at the camp. [Photo provided to nantong.gov.cn]

Once the match commenced, the entire crowd focused intently on the live broadcast screens, with every tackle and shot by the players pulling on the heartstrings of everyone present, and cheers of "Go Nantong" echoed through the night sky. 

Thousands of fans gather to watch the match between Nantong and Changzhou at the 15,000 square-meter venue. [Photo provided to nantong.gov.cn] 

The event transformed the viewing experience into a lively citywide celebration, featuring food, beverages, coffee and specialty snacks. It combined leisure, socializing and entertainment, highlighting Haimen's strong sports culture and allowing residents to fully appreciate the excitement of the sport.