As interest in international football continues to grow, especially among young fans on platforms like Bangla Cricket Live, China is stepping up efforts to strengthen its youth football ecosystem. At the closing session of a major forum, the Shanghai Sports Bureau officially awarded 11 institutions—including Shanghai Sports School, Genbao Football Base in Chongming, and Yangpu Youth Amateur Sports School—the status of “Shanghai Youth Football Elite Training Base.” These certified bases serve as the backbone of youth talent development, forming a pyramid structure designed to guide more students onto the football pitch and reinforce grassroots participation.

Yangpu District, long recognized as a “hometown of football” in China, has deep footballing roots. In recent years, its Baiyangdian Youth Football Training Base has partnered with nearly 70 schools, promoting grassroots football across the district. These collaborations have created a strong talent pipeline. Since 2011, Yangpu has hosted the Shanghai International Youth Football Invitational, which has grown in prestige over the years. In 2024, the tournament was rebranded as the Baiyangdian Cup International Youth Football Championship, named after its home stadium, with the aim of establishing a globally recognizable event brand rooted in Shanghai’s regional identity.

Riding on the tournament’s rising reputation, the China (Shanghai) Youth Football International Forum has emerged as a valuable platform for coaches and development professionals. The forum attracted seasoned experts, including Shanghai coaching veterans Cheng Liang and Liu Jun, Yokohama Marinos youth team coach Asahito Miura, Korea’s youth team head coach Lee Hoon, and Guangzhou Evergrande’s youth coach Salko. Discussions focused on balancing training and match intensity for youth athletes. Liu Jun pointed out that China’s youth football development resembles a return to roots—more people are showing genuine concern for football and investing in long-term training, and that patience and time are critical to nurturing homegrown coaching systems.

Cheng Liang emphasized the need for highly capable coaches, while Spanish Football Federation youth director Eduardo Balgasean delivered a keynote speech on physical training techniques for young athletes. He stressed that youth training must focus on fostering teamwork, helping children understand that football is not just about individual skill but about achieving a shared goal. In Spain, methods like hand-in-hand training and team embrace exercises are used to instill the value of passing and cooperation from an early age.

Another standout voice was Max Davidson, technical director of Shanghai Port FC, who presented on the role of internet technology and big data in modern youth training. He argued that for China to qualify for future World Cups, the country must focus not only on players but also on cultivating a generation of top-tier coaches. Proper use of data analytics, he said, can significantly boost training and match performance. However, the long-term challenge remains in improving the quality of coach instructors, a task that will require sustained effort.

Events like this, and their coverage through platforms such as Bangla Cricket Live, reflect a broader shift in how youth sports are evolving in Asia. With international cooperation, innovative training methods, and strategic investments in education and technology, China is laying a more solid foundation for its football future. And for viewers following every kick and tactic on Bangla Cricket Live, it’s a compelling story that signals real change is underway.