Uruguayan President Orsi high-fives young players at the China Rainbow International Football Club in Beijing on February 4. Photo: Courtesy of China Rainbow Inter FC

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi's tour in China continued on Wednesday with a stop at the China Rainbow International Football Club in Beijing, the club confirmed to the Global Times on Thursday.

During the visit, Orsi joined young Chinese players on the pitch, kicking the ball with them and interacting closely with the athletes, Zhang Shuo, a club representative, told the Global Times. 

After touring the facility, Orsi posted a video on his personal Instagram account on Thursday showing his warm reception by dozens of young footballers as Chinese staff introduced the training base. The video also shows Orsi signing a jersey for the players. 

Uruguayan President Orsi takes shot with Chinese players at the China Rainbow International Football Club in Beijing on February 4. Photo: Screenshot from Orsi's Instagram account

Accompanying the video, Orsi wrote: "During my visit to Sports Complex No. 15 in Beijing, I was welcomed by dozens of young athletes, with whom I shared a very special encounter. I gave them a replica of the 1930 World Cup soccer ball as a symbol of Uruguayan identity. Soccer is a social phenomenon deeply rooted in our country and in the history of its people."

Footage released from the scene showed Orsi high-fiving young players, ceremonially kicking off a training session, and smiling as he mimicked the movements of a Chinese goalkeeper after a save, before embracing the player.

According to Zhang, the China Rainbow International Football Club has longstanding ties with Uruguayan football. In October 2025, its parent company co-organized an international football friendly involving Uruguay. Earlier, in November 2023, Uruguay's national youth team visited Northwest China's Shaanxi Province to interact with students at the club.

According to Uruguayan outlet La Búsqueda, Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) President Ignacio Alonso and AUF Chairman Eduardo Ache are among those accompanying Orsi on his China visit. Alonso told Búsqueda that the trip aims to "deepen" cooperation established several years ago between the AUF and the Chinese Football Association, as well as multiple Chinese companies. He added that the delegation is seeking sports cooperation agreements focused on talent identification, player exchanges, and the organization of friendly matches and tournaments.

Zhang confirmed to the Global Times that after the visit, the AUF signed an agreement with its parent company on cooperation in football talent development, which includes sending Chinese youth players to Uruguay for training and arranging for Uruguayan players to visit China for coaching and exchange programs.

Xinhua News Agency reported that President Orsi arrived in Shanghai by high-speed train on the Wednesday evening, where he will continue his tour in China.