Chongqing - A youth football team from Chongqing, China, with an average age of just 11, clinched the championship at the 2026 China-Serbia Youth Football Tournament in Bor, eastern Serbia, on August 10.

Chongqing's 2015 age-group team won the 2026 China-Serbia Youth Football Tournament. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

The Chongqing Tonglianglong FC U11 side, representing the club’s 2015 age-group elite squad, defeated Partizan Belgrade's team 2-0 in the final to claim the trophy. The tournament, which ran from August 6 to 10, brought together 11 Serbian youth teams and the Chinese visitors as a special guest, with approximately 200 young players competing. Ratko Nikolic, State Secretary of Serbia's Ministry of Sports, attended the opening ceremony and described the event as a valuable platform for youth football exchanges between the two countries.

The Chongqing boys delivered a strong group-stage performance, opening with a 6-0 victory over Hajduk Veljko and following up with a 3-0 win against Timok. Although they suffered a narrow 2-3 loss to Partizan Belgrade in their third group match, they advanced to the semi-finals, where they outscored Majdanpek 7-4 in a high-scoring affair, setting up a rematch with Partizan in the final.

In the championship match, the Chinese youngsters controlled the tempo with energetic movement and fluid passing. Forward Wang Zijie scored twice to seal the victory and was named Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper Li Yuze made several key saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Players from Chongqing's 2015 team in action during a match. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

The 2015 squad's European campaign follows a similar trip in January, when the club's 2016 age-group team traveled to Italy for the Bareggio International Tournament. These overseas excursions are part of a broader strategy by Chongqing football authorities to develop young talent through international exposure.

The elite squad was established through a partnership between the Chongqing Football Administration Center and Chongqing Tonglianglong FC, officially announced in late February. The collaboration covers the 2009/2010 and 2015/2016 age-group teams. Lin Lin, the club's youth development director, said at the time that the goal is to provide players with more competitive matches and training opportunities. "Our aim is not just to develop the next generation of local stars, but to cultivate players who can compete at the highest level in Asia and eventually reach Europe's top five leagues," he said.

Looking ahead, the Chongqing Football Administration Center and the Chongqing Football Association said they will continue to strengthen cooperation with clubs to build a deeper talent pool for the region. Chongqing Tonglianglong FC reiterated its commitment to its strategic partnership with local football authorities, vowing to further refine its age-group academy system and regularly send elite teams to international tournaments and overseas training camps.

Chongqing's 2015 age-group team won the 2026 China-Serbia Youth Football Tournament. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

"The game of football is a universal language that transcends words," said Shen Tianfeng, the team's head coach, after the opening match. "Through these matches, young players from both countries deepen their understanding and friendship, building a bridge for people-to-people ties between China and Serbia."