If you haven’t been paying attention to Chinese football lately, you’ve basically missed a soap opera. Forget the "money era" of Carlos Tevez and Oscar; the current China Chinese Super League standings tell a story of grit, local talent, and a very intense power struggle in Shanghai.
The 2025 season just wrapped up in late November, and the dust is finally settling as we look toward the 2026 kick-off. Shanghai Port did it again. That’s three titles in a row. They finished at the very top with 66 points, but honestly, it was a nail-biter until the final whistle. Their cross-town rivals, Shanghai Shenhua, were breathing down their necks the entire time, finishing just two points behind.
How the Top 5 Shook Out
The final table for the 2025 season looks like a map of China's biggest football hubs. While the league has moved away from the billion-dollar spending sprees, the quality at the top is surprisingly steady.
- Shanghai Port (1st - 66 pts): They are the juggernauts now. Led by Kevin Muscat, they found a way to win even when they weren't at their best. Leo was a beast, knocking in 21 goals.
- Shanghai Shenhua (2nd - 64 pts): This has to hurt. They led for chunks of the season under Leonid Slutsky but fell just short. They’ll have to settle for AFC Champions League Two.
- Chengdu Rongcheng (3rd - 60 pts): If you want to see the best atmosphere in Asia, look at Chengdu. Phoenix Hill Stadium is a fortress. Finishing third is a huge achievement for them.
- Beijing Guoan (4th - 57 pts): They started slow but finished like a freight train. Fábio Abreu ended the year as the league's top scorer with a massive 28 goals.
- Shandong Taishan (5th - 53 pts): A bit of a "down" year by their standards. They are usually title contenders, but injuries and some weird off-field distractions kept them from the top three.
The China Chinese Super League Standings and the Relegation Heartbreak
It isn't all celebrations and trophies. The bottom of the table was a grim sight for some historic clubs. Meizhou Hakka and Changchun Yatai are officially out. They’ve been relegated to China League One after a season that was, frankly, a bit of a disaster for both. Meizhou went on a seven-game losing streak at the worst possible time, which is basically a death sentence in this league.
But wait, there’s a twist.
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The 2026 season is going to look different because of the newcomers. Liaoning Tieren and Chongqing Tonglianglong are coming up from the second tier. If you know Chinese football history, seeing a team from Liaoning and a team from Chongqing back in the big time feels right. These are massive football cities. Liaoning Tieren actually won the League One title with 68 points, looking every bit like a CSL-ready side.
New Rules and Potential Point Deductions
Here is where things get kinda messy. The Chinese Professional Football League (CFL) just dropped a massive policy document in December 2025. They aren't playing around with the finances anymore.
There’s a hard cap of 600 million yuan (roughly $85 million) on total annual spending. If a club spends more than that? Point deductions. If they get caught with "dual contracts" (trying to hide player pay)? They get relegated instantly. No questions asked. We might see the China Chinese Super League standings change before the 2026 season even starts if the auditors find anything fishy during the winter break.
Why Dalian is the Story Everyone is Talking About
You’d think the champions would have the biggest crowds, right? Wrong.
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Dalian Yingbo, who were newcomers in 2025, absolutely smashed the attendance records. They averaged over 58,000 people at the Suoyuwan Stadium. That’s higher than most Bundesliga or Serie A teams. They finished 11th in the standings, which is respectable for a promoted side, but their fans are the real MVP.
It shows that the "soul" of the league is shifting. It’s no longer about buying aging European superstars. It’s about local identity.
The Rise of the Next Generation
Another reason the 2025 standings were so interesting was the emergence of young domestic talent. With the salary caps in place, teams are forced to play the kids. Wang Yudong at Zhejiang FC is the name you need to know. He’s only 19 and scored 11 goals this season. He was the best domestic scorer in the league.
Then you have Wei Xiangxin, a 17-year-old who performed so well he actually got signed by AJ Auxerre in France. This shift toward youth is the only way the national team is ever going to recover from their recent World Cup qualifying heartbreak.
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What to Watch for in 2026
The new season is expected to kick off in late February or early March 2026. If you're looking at the China Chinese Super League standings to place some bets or just to follow along, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Shanghai Derby Part III: Can Shenhua finally leapfrog Port? They have the talent, but Port has the winning "DNA."
- The Chongqing Factor: Chongqing Tonglianglong has a massive following. Expect them to be the "dark horse" that upsets the big teams at home.
- Audit Fallout: Don't be surprised if a team starts the season with -6 points. The league is desperate to clean up its image, and they will use the new financial regulations to make an example out of someone.
Honestly, the CSL is in a weird, transitional spot. It’s not as flashy as it was in 2017, but it feels more "real." The stadiums are full, the local kids are playing, and the drama is as high as ever.
If you want to stay ahead of the game, start tracking the pre-season friendlies this month. Most of the top clubs are heading to Hainan or Thailand for warm-up camps. Pay attention to who the Shanghai teams are signing to fill those final foreign player slots—that’s usually where the title is won or lost.
Check the official CSL website or Flashscore regularly as we get closer to February. The schedule release usually happens about three weeks before the first match, and that’s when the real madness begins.
Actionable Insights for CSL Fans:
- Monitor Financial Audits: Keep an eye on Chinese state media (like Xinhua) through January; any club failing the "debt-free" requirement will be excluded from the 2026 standings.
- Watch the Promoted Sides: Liaoning Tieren and Chongqing Tonglianglong aren't typical "bottom-feeders." They have the budget and fan base to challenge for the top half immediately.
- Follow Youth Transfers: With the new "five youth teams" requirement for CSL clubs, the transfer market for U21 players is going to be more active than the market for international veterans.