The China Football Super League (CFSL) is set to expand in 2026, according to reports from the country's top football league body. The move comes as part of efforts to attract more international talent and boost the standard of play.

The CFSL has already been established for over two decades, but there have been growing concerns about its competitiveness and quality of play. In response, the league has announced plans to expand its membership by adding four new teams to the existing 18.

The expansion will come at a time when Chinese clubs are facing increased competition from overseas teams, including those from Europe. This has led to some clubs struggling financially and falling behind on their payments to players and coaches.

However, the addition of new teams will help to level the playing field and provide more opportunities for domestic talent to showcase their skills. The new clubs will also bring in fresh ideas and techniques that can improve the overall standard of play in the league.

The discounts offered to new teams will be aimed at making it easier for them to compete with the existing elite clubs. These discounts could include reduced transfer fees or lower wages for players and staff.

Overall, the expansion of the China Football Super League is seen as a positive step towards improving the standard of play and increasing interest in the sport. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to a significant increase in the number of domestic players moving abroad to join overseas clubs, but it certainly marks a shift away from the past where the focus was solely on attracting foreign talent.