by sportswriters Zhu Xiao and Lu Huadong

NANJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- In the run-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Esteban Zottele, an Argentine scholar who has lived in China for many years, posted a photo on social media with the caption: "Argentine football vibes in China."

The image shows a mascot from the Su Super League standing beside an inflatable figure of Lionel Messi, a vivid blend of the grassroots energy of China's city football league and the global excitement surrounding the World Cup.

The wildly popular "Su Super League" is an amateur football tournament featuring 13 teams representing cities across east China's Jiangsu Province. Launched last year, the league kicked off its second season this April.

Although not a professional league, it retains a strong sporting core - a quality that has deeply impressed Zottele, an associate professor of Spanish at Changzhou University

"The atmosphere in the stadiums is fantastic, and it's truly moving to see fans cheering every victory," he said. Beyond footballing fun, he believes the league shows how sport and the economy can reinforce each other.

Every weekend, thousands of fans travel between cities for matches, boosting tourism, dining, accommodation, retail and local cultural and creative sectors. Data from last season indicate that every 1 yuan (0.15 U.S. dollars) in ticket revenue generated 7.3 yuan in related consumption.

"From pre-match trips and dining, to in-stadium and spectating and cheering, and post-match entertainment and local tours, the league turns a single football match into a weekend experience, acting as a robust engine for the event economy," said Zottele.

Zottele also praised the league's inclusiveness and creativity. Having lived in China for more than 20 years, he said he has rarely seen a provincial city league run in such a distinctive way.

Zottele noted that the Su Super League brings together people from all walks of life to play for their home cities, uniting 13 cities with diverse economic and cultural backgrounds on the pitch. "It has enjoyed huge popularity for two consecutive years, which is really remarkable," he said.

In his view, China and Latin America can learn from the Su Super League's creative model and use football as a vehicle to deepen cross-regional and cross-cultural cooperation.

"In Argentina, football is part of our cultural identity and has a history of more than a hundred years. People talk about football on the street, at work and at home," Zottele said.

While football culture in Jiangsu has different characteristics, he sees local passion growing, with more people taking part in the stands and watching on television.

Many cities in Jiangsu have sister-city ties with Latin American counterparts, Suzhou with Chancay in Peru and Xuzhou with Salta in Argentina, for example. Zottele suggested organizing regular amateur football friendlies between these paired cities.

Such events, he said, would not only promote the exchange of footballing skills, but also strengthen economic, cultural and people-to-people links.

"Football transcends cultural barriers, and conveys universal values such as respect, teamwork and self-discipline. That is why I firmly believe football can act as a powerful bridge connecting different regions," said Zottele.

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Zottele expressed his best wishes for Argentina and other Latin American teams.

"Argentina boasts a strong squad and an excellent coach, with a perfect mix of young talent and seasoned players, led by the iconic Messi. We are aiming for the championship, yet the competition will be fierce. Every strong contender needs not only solid strength and experience, but also a little bit of luck," he said.

Meanwhile, he sent warm wishes to the Changzhou team, hoping they will stage more thrilling comebacks and achieve new milestones in the ongoing second Su Super League season.

Having lived in China for more than two decades, Zottele has witnessed the country's rapid transformation, steady social progress and improving living standards. During lectures and academic exchanges abroad, he often shares China's achievements through decades of opening-up and its concrete initiatives to support development in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

"I am proud to contribute with my effort to building links between China and Latin America, because I am convinced that our future is shared," said Zottele.