# 2018 in Chinese football

The 2018 season was the 68th season of competitive association football in China.

## Promotion and relegation

| League | Promoted to league | Relegated from league |
| Chinese Super League | Dalian Yifang Beijing Renhe | Yanbian Funde Liaoning Whowin |
| China League One | Heilongjiang Lava Spring Meixian Techand | Baoding Yingli ETS Yunnan Lijiang |
| China League Two | Zibo Sunday Anhui Hefei Guiguan Yanbian Beiguo Fujian Tianxin Shenzhen Pengcheng Sichuan Jiuniu | |

## Men's Football
### League season
#### Chinese Super League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Shanghai SIPG (C) | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 77 | 33 | +44 | 68 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 82 | 36 | +46 | 63 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Shandong Luneng Taishan | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 57 | 39 | +18 | 58 | Qualification to Champions League play-off round |
| 4 | Beijing Sinobo Guoan | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 64 | 45 | +19 | 53 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 5 | Jiangsu Suning | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 48 | 33 | +15 | 48 | |
| 6 | Hebei China Fortune | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 39 | |
| 7 | Shanghai Greenland Shenhua | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 38 | |
| 8 | Beijing Renhe | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 33 | 46 | −13 | 37 | |
| 9 | Tianjin Quanjian | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 36 | |
| 10 | Guangzhou R&F | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 49 | 61 | −12 | 36 | |
| 11 | Dalian Yifang | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 37 | 57 | −20 | 35 | |
| 12 | Henan Jianye | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 34 | |
| 13 | Chongqing Dangdai Lifan | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 40 | 46 | −6 | 32 | |
| 14 | Tianjin TEDA | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 41 | 54 | −13 | 32 | |
| 15 | Changchun Yatai (R) | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 45 | 56 | −11 | 32 | Relegation to League One |
| 16 | Guizhou Hengfeng (R) | 30 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 34 | 66 | −32 | 24 | Relegation to League One |
* ↑ Beijing Sinobo Guoan qualified for the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage as 2018 Chinese FA Cup winners.
* 1 2 Tianjin Quanjian is ahead of Guangzhou R&F on head-to-head points: Tianjin Quanjian 2–1 Guangzhou R&F, Guangzhou R&F 2–6 Tianjin Quanjian.
* 1 2 3 Chongqing Dangdai Lifan, Tianjin TEDA and Changchun Yatai were ranked by head-to-head points: Chongqing Dangdai Lifan 7 pts, Tianjin Teda 5 pts, Changchun Yatai 4 pts.

#### China League One

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Wuhan Zall (C, P) | 30 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 60 | 25 | +35 | 63 | Promotion to Super League |
| 2 | Shenzhen F.C. (P) | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 53 | Promotion to Super League |
| 3 | Zhejiang Greentown | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 53 | 38 | +15 | 51 | |
| 4 | Qingdao Huanghai | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 63 | 44 | +19 | 49 | |
| 5 | Beijing Enterprises Group | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 43 | 34 | +9 | 47 | |
| 6 | Shijiazhuang Ever Bright | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 38 | +5 | 45 | |
| 7 | Heilongjiang Lava Spring | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 37 | 33 | +4 | 41 | |
| 8 | Liaoning F.C. | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 41 | |
| 9 | Meizhou Hakka | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 40 | |
| 10 | Yanbian Funde (R, D, R) | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 34 | 36 | −2 | 38 | Disbanded after season |
| 11 | Shanghai Shenxin | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 37 | |
| 12 | Zhejiang Yiteng (D, R) | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 37 | Relegation to League Two |
| 13 | Nei Mongol Zhongyou | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 34 | |
| 14 | Meizhou Meixian Techand (O) | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 34 | Qualification to Relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Dalian Transcendence (R, D) | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 28 | 48 | −20 | 28 | Disbanded after season |
| 16 | Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard | 30 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 24 | 61 | −37 | 18 | |
* 1 2 3 4 Ineligible for promotion.
* 1 2 Heilongjiang Lava Spring is ahead of Liaoning on head-to-head points: Heilongjiang Lava Spring 2–0 Liaoning, Liaoning 2–1 Heilongjiang Lava Spring.
* ↑ Yanbian Funde was disqualified by CFA and was dissolved due to tax owed.
* 1 2 Shanghai Shenxin is ahead of Zhejiang Yiteng on head-to-head points: Shanghai Shenxin 1–0 Zhejiang Yiteng, Zhejiang Yiteng 0–1 Shanghai Shenxin.
* 1 2 Nei Mongol Zhongyou is ahead of Meizhou Meixian Techand on head-to-head points: Nei Mongol Zhongyou 1–0 Meizhou Meixian Techand, Meizhou Meixian Techand 1–3 Nei Mongol Zhongyou.
* ↑ Dalian Transcendence was ineligible for promotion. And Dalian was dissolved after failing to submit the salary & bonus confirmation form.

#### China League Two
##### North Group

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic (Q, P) | 26 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 41 | 20 | +21 | 53 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 2 | Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli (Q) | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 52 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 3 | Shenyang Urban (Q) | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 51 | 28 | +23 | 52 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 4 | Qingdao Jonoon (Q) | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 51 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 5 | Yinchuan Helanshan | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 45 | 23 | +22 | 49 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 6 | Hebei Elite | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 50 | 32 | +18 | 43 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 7 | Jilin Baijia | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 41 | 33 | +8 | 43 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 8 | Baoding Yingli ETS | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 38 | 30 | +8 | 42 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 9 | Dalian Boyoung | 26 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 34 | 27 | +7 | 40 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 10 | Zibo Sunday | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 31 | +3 | 35 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 11 | Beijing BIT | 26 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 26 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 12 | Yanbian Beiguo | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 29 | 49 | −20 | 24 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 13 | Baotou Nanjiao | 26 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 24 | 68 | −44 | 9 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 14 | Shenyang Dongjin | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 81 | −81 | 0 | Defunct |
* 1 2 Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli is ahead of Shenyang Urban on head-to-head points: Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli 2–1 Shenyang Urban, Shenyang Urban 1–2 Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli.
* 1 2 Hebei Elite is ahead of Jilin Baijia on head-to-head points: Hebei Elite 2–1 Jilin Baijia, Jilin Baijia 3–5 Hebei Elite.

##### South Group

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Sichuan Longfor (Q, C, P) | 26 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 86 | 10 | +76 | 72 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 2 | Nantong Zhiyun (Q, P) | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 55 | 21 | +34 | 58 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 3 | Fujian Tianxin (Q) | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 43 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 4 | Shenzhen Ledman (Q) | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 31 | 26 | +5 | 41 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 5 | Hunan Billows | 26 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 40 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 6 | Suzhou Dongwu | 26 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 39 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 7 | Zhenjiang Huasa | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 31 | −4 | 39 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 8 | Hainan Boying | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 28 | −6 | 33 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 9 | Shenzhen Pengcheng | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 33 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 10 | Yunnan Flying Tigers | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 33 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 11 | Jiangxi Liansheng | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 30 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 12 | Sichuan Jiuniu | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 25 | −2 | 27 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 13 | Shanghai Sunfun | 26 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 18 | 73 | −55 | 11 | 9th–26th place Play-offs |
| 14 | Anhui Hefei Guiguan | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 78 | −78 | 0 | Defunct |
* 1 2 Suzhou Dongwu is ahead of Zhenjiang Huasa on head-to-head points: Suzhou Dongwu 0–0 Zhenjiang Huasa, Zhenjiang Huasa 0–1 Suzhou Dongwu.
* 1 2 3 Hainan Boying and Shenzhen Pengcheng are ahead of Yunnan Flying Tigers on head-to-head points: Hainan Boying 5 pts, Shenzhen Pengcheng 5 pts, Yunnan Flying Tigers 4 pts. Hainan Boying is ahead of Shenzhen Pengcheng on head-to-head goals scored.

##### Overall table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Sichuan Longfor (C, P) | 31 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 95 | 10 | +85 | 85 | China League One |
| 2 | Nantong Zhiyun (P) | 31 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 22 | +36 | 68 | China League One |
| 3 | Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic (P) | 31 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 44 | 24 | +20 | 58 | China League One |
| 4 | Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli | 31 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 46 | 23 | +23 | 57 | |
| 5 | Shenzhen Ledman | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 33 | 28 | +5 | 43 | Disbanded after season |
| 6 | Shenyang Urban | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 51 | 29 | +22 | 53 | |
| 7 | Fujian Tianxin | 28 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 33 | 25 | +8 | 44 | |
| 8 | Qingdao Jonoon | 28 | 16 | 3 | 9 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 51 | |
| 9 | Yinchuan Helanshan | 28 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 24 | +25 | 55 | |
| 10 | Hunan Billows | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 40 | |
| 11 | Hebei Elite | 28 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 55 | 33 | +22 | 47 | |
| 12 | Suzhou Dongwu | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 27 | 31 | −4 | 40 | |
| 13 | Zhenjiang Huasa | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 43 | |
| 14 | Jilin Baijia | 28 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 43 | 37 | +6 | 44 | |
| 15 | Baoding Yingli ETS | 28 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 48 | |
| 16 | Hainan Boying | 28 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 32 | −9 | 33 | Disbanded after season |
| 17 | Dalian Boyoung | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 40 | 30 | +10 | 46 | |
| 18 | Shenzhen Pengcheng | 28 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 30 | −3 | 33 | |
| 19 | Zibo Sunday | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 38 | 32 | +6 | 41 | |
| 20 | Yunnan Flying Tigers | 28 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 33 | Disbanded after season |
| 21 | Beijing BIT | 28 | 9 | 3 | 16 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 30 | |
| 22 | Jiangxi Liansheng | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 31 | |
| 23 | Yanbian Beiguo | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 50 | −19 | 28 | |
| 24 | Sichuan Jiuniu | 28 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 28 | |
| 25 | Baotou Nanjiao | 28 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 30 | 68 | −38 | 15 | |
| 26 | Shanghai Sunfun | 28 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 18 | 79 | −61 | 11 | Disbanded after season |
| 27 | Anhui Hefei Guiguan | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 78 | −78 | 0 | Defunct |
| 28 | Shenyang Dongjin | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 81 | −81 | 0 | Defunct |
* ↑ Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic was originally advanced to promotion play-offs but lost in the promotion play-offs. However, Shaanxi was promoted following the disqualification of the China League One side Yanbian Funde.
* ↑ Yunnan Flying Tigers was disqualified by CFA.

##### Play-offs
###### 25th–26th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Baotou Nanjiao | 6–0 | Shanghai Sunfun | 3–0 | 3–0 |

###### 23rd–24th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Yanbian Beiguo | 2–1 | Sichuan Jiuniu | 1–1 | 1–0 |

###### 21st–22nd place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Beijing BIT | 5–3 | Jiangxi Liansheng | 3–1 | 2–2 |

###### 19th–20th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Yunnan Flying Tigers | 1–4 | Zibo Sunday | 1–2 | 0–2 |

###### 17th–18th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Shenzhen Pengcheng | 3–6 | Dalian Boyoung | 1–2 | 2–4 |

###### 15th–16th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Hainan Boying | 1–4 | Baoding Yingli ETS | 0–1 | 1–3 |

###### 13th–14th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Jilin Baijia | 2–4 | Zhenjiang Huasa | 0–2 | 2–2 |

###### 11th–12th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Suzhou Dongwu | 1–5 | Hebei Elite | 1–1 | 0–4 |

###### 9th–10th place

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Hunan Billows | 1–4 | Yinchuan Helanshan | 1–3 | 0–1 |

###### Quarter-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Shenzhen Ledman | 2–2 (a) | Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| Shenyang Urban | 0–1 | Nantong Zhiyun | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Qingdao Jonoon | 0–6 | Sichuan Longfor | 0–2 | 0–4 |
| Fujian Tianxin | 0–1 | Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli | 0–0 | 0–1 |

###### Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2–0 | Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Sichuan Longfor | 0–0 | 0–2 |

###### Third-Place Match

Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic qualified to 2018 China League One relegation play-offs.