Soccer dream comes true for Guangxi kids

Tan Yuanhua, 12, was invited to watch the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 and set out for New Zealand on Tuesday. She couldn't believe it was happening.

Tan is a member of the youth soccer team in a small village in Liuzhou city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Thanks to a public welfare project — the Guangxi rural football revitalization plan, initiated by the region's sports authorities and fans — kids like Tan in rural areas have the opportunity to get good training.

In support of the cause, local parents cooperated to transform a pond into a football field. Professional soccer coaches volunteered to provide training and guidance.

All these efforts sparked the soccer passion of village children. Click to see how their football dream come true.

[Video by Li Hanchi]