The 2019 Guangdong Football Association Cup starts in Zhanjiang on July 27. [Photo by Zhu Jiangwei/southcn.com]

The 2019 Guangdong Football Association Cup opened at Zhanjiang Sports Center on July 27. Sixteen teams from 14 cities in Guangdong province are competing in 30 games over the next two months for three qualification spots for the 2020 China Football Association Cup.

The Guangdong Football Association Cup is sponsored by the Guangdong Provincial Football Center and the Guangdong Football Association.

Ye Xiquan, chairman of the Guangdong Football Association, said at the opening ceremony that starting competitions in Zhanjiang will make more youth in the city take part in football. The Guangdong Football Association Cup aims to help young people who love football participate in high-level events and create more opportunities for them to play in national competitions. 　

Cheng Zhiwen, vice chairman of the Guangdong Football Association, hoped that football in the cities of Guangdong will be developed through provincial football events.

The first match of the Guangdong Football Association Cup kicks off between Zhanjiang Zhanyang Football Club and Huizhou Huixin Football Club. [Photo by Zhu Jiangwei/southcn.com]

After the opening ceremony, the first match of the Guangdong Football Association Cup kicked off between Zhanjiang Zhanyang Football Club and Huizhou Huixin Football Club.

Football players compete in the opening match. [Photo by Zhu Jiangwei/southcn.com]