THE Chinese Super League (CSL) has been rescheduled to allow the national team to prepare for the 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers final round and will now restart July 15, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced Monday.

China is scheduled to play two men’s qualifying matches between September and November. As the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) insisted the tournament will be organized in a home and away format and Chinese internationals have to undergo a 14-day quarantine when they return home after away games, it is almost impossible for CSL matches to be played as planned during those three months.

According to the new CSL fixtures, the first phase will be played from July 15 to Aug. 12, and the second from Dec. 1 to Jan. 3, 2022.

Since the 16 CSL teams were divided into groups A and B at the beginning of the season, the top four teams in both groups will enter the “Championship Zone” after the end of the first phase, while the other eight teams will be placed in the “Relegation Zone.”

The team in the “Championship Zone” that has earned the most points during the two phases will be the champion of the CSL this season.

The CFA Cup will start July 31, with the final planned for Nov. 13 or 14. (Xinhua)