A southwestern surge in Chinese football?

In the Chinese FA Cup semi-finals, Yunnan Yukun came from behind to beat Dalian Yingbo 4-3 in Yuxi, reaching the final for the first time in the club's history. They will face the winners of the tie between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Port. Meanwhile, in the Chinese Super League (CSL), Chengdu Rongcheng still have the title race in their own hands. This has created a rare possibility in Chinese football: both the CSL and FA Cup titles could go to clubs from southwestern China.

Since the professionalisation of Chinese football, no club from southwestern China has won the top-flight league title. In the FA Cup, only the now-defunct Chongqing Lifan and Guizhou Renhe have lifted the trophy. Today, three southwestern clubs — Chengdu Rongcheng, Chongqing Tonglianglong and Yunnan Yukun — are competing in the CSL, reshaping the landscape of Chinese football.

But opportunity does not guarantee success. Yukun's run to the final has been driven by standout performances in individual matches. Against either Guoan or Shanghai Port, they would still be at a disadvantage in terms of squad strength on paper. Rongcheng, meanwhile, must put an end to their inconsistent form.