2025 AFC Women's Football Day Kicks Off in Juye, Shandong

The 2025 AFC Women's Football Day event was grandly held in Longgu town, Juye county, Shandong on May 18. A total of 120 rural girls showcased their passion and vitality on the green field, experiencing the charm of football and enjoying the fun of the sport.

The event was jointly organized by the Asian Football Confederation and the Chinese Football Association. A total of 120 female rural residents participated in various activities like cultural performances, fun football games, and friendly matches, heralding a new chapter in grassroots football development.

Zheng Yi, deputy county mayor of Juye, delivered an enthusiastic speech during the opening ceremony of the event, emphasizing the significance of football in promoting rural vitalization and sports education integration. The event marked the first-ever "AFC Women's Football Day" in Heze, with Longgu town serving as the venue, a recognition of the town's football development achievements and serving as a rare historical opportunity.

In recent years, Longgu town has leveraged "sports+" to promote the deep integration of national fitness and rural vitalization. The town is not only home to Heze's first town-level seven-a-side football field and village-level five-a-side football facilities, but has also hosted two consecutive editions of the Youth Football Super League, rural table tennis super league, and other high-profile events, establishing a pattern of "weekly activities, monthly competitions".

This event not only planted the seeds of football in participants, but also enhanced the luster of Longgu town's sports culture. (Edited by Xie Zhenzhen)

The 2025 AFC Women's Football Day event is held in Longgu town, Juye county, Shandong, on May 18. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]