The seventh Taicang "Sino-German Friendship Cup" Football Invitational Tournament recently kicked off with great fanfare in Taicang, a county-level city of Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Prior to the start of the matches, legendary Bundesliga star Roman Weidenfeller arrived at the sporting venue. After the solemn oath-taking by athletes and referees, he exchanged a signed football and jerseys with a Taicang young footballer. Finally, along with other attending guests, he announced the opening of this year's tournament.

The competition has drawn 16 teams and a total of 251 participants. It adopts an 8-per-side format. First, three rounds of group matches will be held, with the top eight teams to advance to the knockout stage. The first round of group matches is currently underway.

Having been held for seven consecutive years, the "Sino-German Friendship Cup" Invitational Tournament has become a flagship cultural and recreational event for employees of German-funded enterprises in Taicang. Not only does it enrich the cultural lives of Chinese and German workers, but it also provides a fantastic platform for football enthusiasts to showcase their skills and foster friendships.

German players pose for a photo at the Taicang "Sino-German Friendship Cup" Football Invitational Tournament. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_5d51cb296177]