A Tale of Two Extremes: Henan’s Cup Exit Sparks Buzz as Guoan’s Title Hopes Remain on a Knife’s Edge

The 2025 Chinese FA Cup Final has officially come to a close, with Beijing Guoan delivering a commanding 3–0 victory over Henan to claim their fifth FA Cup title in club history. For Henan, who reached the final for the first time, the dream of lifting the trophy fell just short. They left the pitch with runners-up medals and heavy hearts. Yet in the days that followed, the post-match treatment of the two clubs unfolded in completely opposite directions—truly a tale of fire and ice.

On December 7, Henan’s players and coaching staff were personally received by Liu Ning, the Secretary of the Henan Provincial Party Committee, who offered warm congratulations to the team for their historic FA Cup runner-up finish. At the same time, the official account of the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau released a heartfelt message: “Thirty years of unwavering passion—this ending is not the finish line. Carry your hopes forward and prepare for the next journey. Henan’s fans stand with you.” And indeed, the Henan supporters proved that sentiment true. Before kickoff at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Center, they unveiled a stunning giant TIFO reading, “United as One, We Make History,” creating one of the most unforgettable scenes of the final.

Although missing out on the title was painful, Henan gained something even more valuable—unprecedented public attention and recognition. The provincial leadership publicly pledged strong support for the development of football, sports programs, and the broader sports industry in Henan. In many ways, this moment marked a turning point for the club. What seemed like a heartbreaking loss has instead opened the door to long-term growth and a far brighter future.

In sharp contrast stands the newly crowned champion, Beijing Guoan. Before the final, club chairman Zhou Jinhui delivered a powerful speech in the locker room, urging the team to fight for the honor of the city, reminding them, “We are Beijing—we are Beijing Guoan.” The players responded on the field with a dominant performance, battling relentlessly for 90 minutes to lift the trophy.

Yet after their triumph, Guoan received only a congratulatory letter from the Beijing Football Association. By contrast, the Beijing women’s team that won the Women’s Super League and the Shougang men’s basketball team, which finished as runners-up in the CBA, both received official congratulations from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau. The difference in recognition between the FA Cup champions and runners-up across regions was striking.

China’s leading football media outlet, Football News, later provided deeper insight into the situation. According to its report, since 2024, Beijing has discontinued the annual sports guidance funds that had previously been allocated to Beijing Guoan. Although a 210-million-yuan emergency fund was coordinated through state-owned enterprises at the end of 2023, this money was not a grant—it must be repaid with interest within a specified timeframe.

In other words, throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Guoan has been operating without any external financial support. All transfer spending and day-to-day operations have been shouldered solely by its parent company, Zhonghe Group. Against this backdrop, winning the FA Cup is nothing short of remarkable. However, their sudden collapse in the Chinese Super League title race this season remains a lingering regret.

Over the past nine years, Zhonghe Group has invested a staggering 8 billion yuan into Beijing Guoan, keeping the club at the forefront of Chinese football and sustaining its iconic green legacy. But the group itself now admits that it is approaching its financial limits.

Henan, despite the heavy defeat in the final, has been embraced by its province with rare enthusiasm. Football’s influence in Henan continues to deepen, and the support now flowing toward the club points to a promising future. Meanwhile, Guoan, despite lifting the trophy, finds itself largely overlooked. With its parent company under immense strain, this proud club that has fought on the Chinese football stage for more than three decades may now be staring at the possibility of a prolonged period of hardship ahead.