Inside China's $185 million soccer factory

QINGYUAN, China (KTRK) -- China is looking to raise its profile in the world of soccer, or football as it's called outside the U.S.

The country is pumping billions into youth football academies, such as the Evergrande Football School in southern China's Guangdong Province.

The school is an expansive set-up with 50 pitches spread out across 160 acres.

The school has more than 2,000 students who live on the sprawling campus. They're considered the future of Chinese soccer.

Liu Jiangnan, principal of the Evergrande Football School, said, "Our school's purpose is to improve football in China and cultivate football stars...while helping them grow as people."

Watch CNN's full profile on the school in Matt Rivers' report above.