Xi'an to hold another international football tournament

The CFA Team China U-23 Xi'an International Tournament Xi'an 2026 will take place at the Xi'an International Football Center from March 25 to 31.

China's U-23 national team will host their counterparts from Vietnam, Thailand, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at their home stadium. The venue has released the first batch of ticket information, igniting the city's passion for football.

The center is located in Fengdong New City of Xixian New Area. It covers an area of 280mu(18.67 hectares), with a total floor area of 268,000 square meters. The venue contains more than 60,000 fixed seats and is equipped with two standard outdoor training pitches. As the only professional football stadium in Northwest China that meets FIFA standards, it ranks among the top three in China in terms of professional scale and can host all international Grade A football matches except the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

This professional venue has also proven to be a lucky ground for the China U-23 national team. In September 2025, it made its debut hosting the Group D matches of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. After a series of hard-fought games, the China U-23 team went on to secure the runner-up title at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in January 2026 — achieving the best result in the team's history.

Xixian New Area has accumulated extensive practical experience in hosting international football tournaments. The Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers marked the first major international football tournament held in Xi'an in the past decade, as well as the debut of football events in Xixian New Area, attracting a total of 87,806 spectators across three matches. The organizers completed preparations in just 45 days, setting a new record for the shortest preparation time for a major international football tournament in China.

Staging this tournament is another example of Xixian New Area's ability to host high-end international events. It will further stimulate the regional sports economy, drive the growth of related industries such as sports tourism, catering, and accommodation, extend the sports industry chain, and inject sports-driven momentum into the area's high-quality development.