FA Cup: Upsets Become Trend, Amateur Teams Accelerate Development

Report by Chen Yong On April 20, the last match of the FA Cup second round finished. 16 teams moved to the third round, comprising 10 China League Two sides and 6 amateur/semi-professional clubs. Yulin and Liaocheng particularly witnessed their top-tier football events in history. As Yulin Mobei Lutou and Liaocheng Legend Luyechun advanced, their FA Cup path will extend. They will next face China League One opponents at their home venues.

For them, the FA Cup aspiration is naturally to keep advancing and host Chinese Super League teams at home. Regarding club development, Yulin Mobei Miner Football Club will continue competing in the China Champions League this year, aiming for professional league entry. Liaocheng's team will participate in the Shandong Provincial City League this year and pursue professional league status when conditions mature.

At 3 PM on April 18 in Yulin, 11,981 fans attended the match between Yulin Mobei Lutou and Ganzhou Ruishi—a clash between a China Champions League team and a China League Two side. The home team Yulin Mobei Lutou performed excellently, imposing heavy pressure on the opponent and ultimately winning 2-0 to advance to the third round (1/32 finals).

In the 13th minute, Zhong Jiyu scored with a spectacular long-range volley outside the box—a superb world-class goal destined to be among the best in the 2026 FA Cup and crucial material for future FA Cup promotional videos. Zhong previously played for CSL side Shijiazhuang Yongchang and scored in the top league. In the 70th minute, Yulin Mobei Lutou earned a penalty; 37-year-old captain Yu Shuai converted it. Yu Shuai and Zheng Zheng were teammates in the Shandong Taishan 1989 age-group youth team, and Yu was once part of Shandong Taishan's first team.

In the 2026 FA Cup first round, 29 amateur/semi-professional teams and 3 China League Two teams participated, with 13 amateur/semi-professional sides and 3 China League Two clubs advancing to the second round. In the second round, these teams hosted the other 16 China League Two teams.

On April 18, the first matchday of the second round featured 7 games. In the afternoon's 4 matches, all four amateur teams—Yulin Miner Lutou, Shanghai Zetian, Wuhan Lianzhen, and Beijing Tongzhou Pengrui—progressed. In the evening games, China League Two teams upheld their dignity, with Qingdao Red Lions, Lanzhou Longyuan Jingji, and Hangzhou Linping Wuyue advancing.

On the second matchday (April 19), 8 games were played, including 3 clashes between China League Two teams. In the other 5 matches, two amateur teams—Liaocheng Legend Luyechun and Guizhou Xufengtang—advanced. On the final matchday (April 20), China League Two side Shenzhen 2028 won and progressed.

Ultimately, in the FA Cup second round's 16 matches, 6 out of 13 amateur teams advanced to the third round, alongside 10 China League Two teams. In the third round, these teams will host China League One opponents at home, where the League One sides cannot use foreign players. We anticipate these teams continuing their "upset" trend and going all the way as dark horses.

Before the rise of city leagues, the FA Cup exerted influence and appeal mainly in three aspects: first, the championship outcome; second, the attention on FA Cup dark horses; third, the cup consistently served as a seeding and incubator function. Even as city leagues begin to rise today, the FA Cup still retains this role.

"The previous round, this round, and the next round of FA Cup matches are the highest-level official football events held in Yulin. Previously, Yulin hosted a football invitation match between Shaanxi Chang'an United and Uzbekistan's Urhang, attracting nearly 20,000 spectators, but that was a friendly. This year's FA Cup, we have faced amateur and China League Two teams and will soon meet China League One side Suzhou Dongwu," said Wei Jiayu, Chairman of Yulin Mobei Miner Football Club.

Wei Jiayu, founder of Yulin Mobei Miner Football Club, was a fan three years ago, frequently traveling for Shaanxi football, national team, and European matches. Transitioning from fan to club founder, Wei stated that government support gave him confidence to invest in football. After establishing the club, the club's name, logo, etc., came from suggestions by Yulin fans. "We aim to build a club truly belonging to Yulin people," Wei said.

Zhang Ying, General Manager of Yulin Lutou Beiguo Sports and former Shaanxi国力 player, has never forgotten football over the years. He noted that football in Shaanxi has always been fervent, and Yulin is similar. China Champions League qualifiers drew five to six thousand spectators, finals attracted over ten thousand. Yulin people love football, and the public has demand for richer sports cultural life. "In Yulin's '15th Five-Year' plan, establishing a professional club is included. Hope football can represent Yulin's spirit, become a new city emblem, and showcase Yulin's regional culture and customs," Zhang expressed.

Yulin Mobei Miner Football Club is enterprise-invested with government support. Yulin Lutou Beiguo Sports provides venue, accommodation, and catering support, with standards surpassing most China League One teams and nearing CSL levels. Notably, Yulin is the fifth-largest economic city in western China after Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Kunming. Its 2025 GDP reached 7501.06 billion yuan, giving Yulin Mobei Miner stronger confidence to move toward a professional club.

In Shandong, Liaocheng is not only a strong contender in the Shandong Provincial City League, but Liaocheng Legend Luyechun also defeated Beijing BIT in the FA Cup second round. That match attracted 12,637 fans. In the third round, they will face China League One club Ningbo.