JINJIANG, China - The first edition of International University Sports Federation (FISU) University Football World Cup kicked off in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian province on Thursday, with 24 teams from 16 countries and regions competing in 62 matches in the tournament.

"The format is the key. The teams will not be representing their countries, but their universities. This is an important development for international university sports," said the FISU President Oleg Matytsin.

According to the organizing committee, 16 top-level men's university squads have been allocated in four groups, while the ladies' competitions will witness eight teams divided into two groups.

"Since the very beginning of the international university sports movement, only national teams have been competing at the international level. The World Cup in Jinjiang is leading the change," noted Matytsin, who also claimed the universities' competitions will see more of the new format in the future.

In February 2018, FISU announced Jinjiang will be the host of the first ever University Football World Cup. The nine-day tournament will run to Dec. 1.