EDUCATION authorities yesterday announced the launch of a new program to boost the popularity of soccer in schools.

The aim of “Campus Soccer” is to boost interest in the game among primary and high school students, while also building the necessary infrastructure to support its development, the Shanghai Education Commission said.

The announcement follows calls from President Xi Jinping to improve the way in which the “beautiful game” is taught in schools, with the long-term goal of seeing the national side perform better on the world stage.