How a club founded on the ashes of a dissolved team reached continental football
In short: Chengdu Rongcheng F.C. rose from the dissolution of a local predecessor to reach the pinnacle of Chinese football in just a few years. By securing a spot in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League, this Hibiscus City club transformed from a local startup into a major competitor on the international stage.
Established on 20 March 2018 by the Chengdu Better City Investment Group, the club emerged following the collapse of Chengdu Qbao. Under the initial guidance of head coach José Carlos Granero, the team quickly ascended through the lower tiers of the Chinese football pyramid. They achieved consecutive promotions, moving from the Chengdu FA Champions League to the second-tier China League One by the end of 2019. This rapid rise was marked by a commitment to building a competitive squad, eventually leading to a name change in January 2021 to comply with national regulations requiring neutral team names.
The club's trajectory shifted significantly under South Korean manager Seo Jung-won, who took charge for the 2021 season. A pivotal moment occurred on 12 January 2022, when the team defeated Dalian Pro in a promotion play-off to enter the Chinese Super League. Their debut season in the top tier was a masterclass in resilience; after a winless start, they finished 5th with 65 points. The club eventually moved into the modern Phoenix Hill Football Stadium in December 2022, establishing a new home that would host their future successes.
By the 2024 season, the club had solidified its status as a top-tier contender, finishing in third place. Their victory against Bangkok United on 12 August 2025 marked a historic milestone, as it was the club's first-ever participation in a continental tournament. Although their debut continental match against Ulsan HD resulted in a narrow 2–1 defeat, the club's journey from a local startup to an international competitor highlights the rapid evolution of professional football in Chengdu.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Chengdu Rongcheng F.C.
- Also: Wikidata — Chengdu Rongcheng F.C. · CC0
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