The event, which spanned four weeks and featured 16 teams with over 300 participants, was filled with countless spectacular moments. On December 27, the 2nd Qingdao Football City Challenge 2025 officially concluded at the football field of Qingdao Digital Economy Industrial Park. Runze Bandao ultimately lifted the championship trophy, with Kelme-Yingtu and Xuandong 2038 securing the runner-up and third-place positions, respectively. Together, the players, referees, and fans ignited the city's passion for sports this winter with their enthusiasm and professionalism.
Following intense group stage battles, Kelme-Yingtu, Mr. Deer, Runze Bandao, Xinhua FC, Bandao Youth Training, Boruiheng, Xuandong 2038, and Pengfei Youth Training advanced to the knockout stage. After several grueling elimination rounds, Runze Bandao and Kelme-Yingtu earned their spots in the final.
The championship team, Runze Bandao.
Defense, tackles, brilliant passes, and a thunderous long shot that ripped into the net—this kind of fluid teamwork was on full display in the final of the 2nd Qingdao Football City Challenge 2025. The finalists, Kelme-Yingtu and Runze Bandao, ignited one fiery football moment after another in the cold wind. In the first half, Runze Bandao seemed unstoppable, repeatedly finding the back of the net to take a commanding 4-0 lead. After switching sides for the second half, Kelme-Yingtu refused to give up, engaging in a fierce offensive battle and scoring two goals. However, they could not withstand Runze Bandao's relentless attack, with the match ending 9-2, securing the championship for Runze Bandao. Kelme-Yingtu took the runner-up spot, while Xuandong 2038 claimed the third-place podium.
The runner-up team, Kelme-Yingtu.
The third-place team, Xuandong 2038.
In other awards, Runze Bandao's veteran Wang Dong was named Best Player. He scored 8 goals in two appearances, repeatedly proving to be the team's "key man." The Top Scorer award went to Pang Chengtai of Pengfei Youth Training, who netted a total of 9 goals, a worthy winner of the Golden Boot. The Best Goalkeeper was awarded to Runze Bandao's "Iron Gate," Li Xiao, who denied opponent shots time and again to secure his team's victories. The Fair Play Award was given to team Boruiheng for their sportsmanship, which earned unanimous praise from the panel of referees. At the closing ceremony, these award winners, along with the top three teams, took the stage to receive their honors amidst the applause and cheers of the audience.
Individual award winners pose for a group photo.
The tournament was a major collaborative effort, guided by the Qingdao Football Association, the Qingdao Football Sports Management Center, and the Shinan District Education and Sports Bureau. It was led by the Shinan District Sports Federation and organized by the Peninsula Metropolis Daily alongside the Shinan District Football Development Association, with support from the Qingdao Digital Economy Industrial Park Football Field and the Shinan District Football Association. The event was operated by Qingdao Runze Peninsula Sports Culture Co., Ltd.
Highlights from the final match.
The Qingdao Football City Challenge has now been held for two consecutive years. This year's tournament was specially scheduled for the winter, effectively filling the void of adult amateur competitions in Qingdao during this season and steeling the participants' will and focus against the cold wind and snow. As a major year-end event, it also served as a grand finale for the Football City's year-long calendar of activities. Although an amateur competition, the tournament featured professional referees and medical teams, innovated upon the standard eight-a-side format, and employed professional crews for video live-streaming, live photo coverage, video production, and news publicity. These efforts effectively enhanced the tournament's reputation, earning widespread praise from both participants and fans.
From the enthusiastic registration numbers to the high level of public attention during the games, we witnessed the vibrant energy and hope of Qingdao football, thriving even in the dead of winter. This challenge was like a burning flame, lighting up Qingdao's winter and reflecting the deep-rooted passion and strong community foundation of this "Football City." This aligns perfectly with the event philosophy of Shinan District—to popularize football as a foundation, optimize its development programs as a goal, and help elevate the competitive level of the sport across the city, injecting "Shinan Power" into the high-quality development of Qingdao's football scene.
Editor: Yuan Ruichen
