2021 Chinese Champions League

The 2021 Chinese Champions League, officially known as the Sino-LAC 2021 Chinese Football Association Member Association Champions League  for sponsorship reasons, was the 20th season since its establishment in 2002.

From Champions League
Teams promoted to China League Two

Teams relegated to CFA member associations leagues / cups or lower tiers
 * Guangdong Lianghetang
 * Xiamen Qudian
 * Sichuan Huakun
 * Yichun Jiangxi Tungsten Grand Tiger
 * Hebei Jingying Zhihai
 * Wuxi Xinje
 * Quanzhou Addarmour
 * Yanbian Hailanjiang
 * Dandong Hantong

Other 7 teams from last season relegated to regional competitions.

To Champions League
Teams qualified from CFA member associations leagues / cups


 * Xi'an FA Cup
 * Xi'an Ronghai
 * Shaanxi National Super League
 * Xi'an Yilian
 * Xinjiang FA Champions League
 * Xinjiang Snowland Tiancheng
 * Xinjiang Lingmengzhe
 * Xinjiang Umud
 * Kashgar Alifu
 * Inner Mongolia Male Super League
 * Urad Middle Banner Hasaer
 * Dalad Banner Bohai
 * Shandong Amateur Super League
 * Weifang Juexiaoya
 * Tai'an Huawei
 * Jinan Xingzhou
 * Shanxi FA Super League
 * Shanxi Longchengren
 * Tianjin FA Super League
 * Tianjin Shengde
 * Tianjin Yiteng Haitian Xinmei Zhicai


 * Qingdao City Super League
 * Qingdao N&E United
 * Jiangsu FA Championship League
 * Jiangsu Zhongnan Codion
 * Guangxi Super League
 * Guangxi Lanhang
 * Guangxi Huaqiangu
 * Liuzhou Ranko
 * Chongqing Amateur League Super Division
 * Chongqing Nerazzurri
 * Chongqing Dikai
 * Chengdu City Super League
 * Chengdu Top Shine
 * Wuhan City Super League
 * Hubei Huachuang
 * Kunming Football Tournament
 * The Alliance of Guardians
 * Fujian FA Super League
 * Fuzhou Hengxing
 * Fujian Quanzhou Qinggong


 * Guangdong FA Super League
 * Guangdong Red Treasure
 * Zhuhai Qin'ao
 * Meixian Qiuxiang
 * Foshan Jion
 * Jiangxi League
 * Nanchang Honggu
 * Hainan Football Super League
 * Lingshui Dingli Jingcheng
 * Zhejiang Super League Division A
 * Shaoxing Shangyu Pterosaur
 * Shanghai FA Super League Group A
 * Shanghai Huajiao
 * Shanghai Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Flying Lion
 * Shanghai Huazheng

Teams qualified by recommendations


 * Ningxia FA
 * Ningxiaren Haixi
 * Gansu FA
 * Jingchuan Wenhui
 * Lanzhou Taifeng
 * Henan FA
 * Henan Orient Classic
 * Henan Baier
 * Hebei FA
 * Langfang Fenghua
 * Liaoning FA
 * Liaoning Leading
 * Yingkou Chaoyue
 * Anshan Feiyang


 * Changchun FA
 * Changchun Shenhua
 * Yanbian FA
 * Yanbian Sports School
 * Nanjing FA
 * Nanjing Tehu
 * Yunnan FA
 * Yunnan Yukun Steel
 * Lijiang Yuanheng
 * Sichuan FA
 * Sichuan Tianfu


 * Hubei FA
 * Hubei Wuhan Athletics Zaiming
 * Hunan FA
 * Hunan X-Ray
 * Xinjiang PCC FA
 * Xinjiang Alar 359
 * Anhui FA
 * Anhui Litian
 * Anhui OneCity

Name Changes
Beijing City United F.C. moved to Zhuhai and changed their name to Zhuhai Qin'ao in January 2021.

Shanxi Zhisheng F.C. changed their name to Shanxi Longchengren in February 2021.

Dalian X-Ray F.C. moved to Loudi and changed their name to Hunan X-Ray in March 2021.

Meixian 433 F.C. changed their name to Meixian Qiuxiang in March 2021.

Sichuan Top Shine F.C. changed their name to Chengdu Top Shine in March 2021.

Tongyong Group F.C. changed their name to Guangdong Red Treasure in March 2021.

Weifang Juexiaoya F.C. moved to Zibo and changed their name to Zibo Qisheng in March 2021.

Xinjiang Xingdong Weilai F.C. changed their name to Xinjiang Lingmengzhe in March 2021.

Nanchang Teneng F.C. changed their name to Nanchang Honggu in June 2021.

Jingchuan Zhenpin F.C. changed their name to Jingchuan Wenhui in August 2021.

Urad Middle Banner Hasaer F.C. moved to Hohhot and changed their name to Inner Mongolia Hasaer in September 2021.

Regional Competitions
The draw for the regional competitions took place on 31 August 2021.

Semi-finals
The 16 winners of the semi-finals will qualify for the Finals.

Group stage
The draw for the group stage took place on 9 November 2021.