National football team prepares for World Cup qualifiers
Since Jankovic took charge of the national soccer team, the team has never been able to show convincing strength.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying round of 36 matches will kick off on Thursday. The Chinese men's soccer team, which is currently assembling in Shenzhen, is scheduled to take an Air China flight to Thailand on Nov. 14 to get fully prepared for the first World Cup qualifying match against Thailand on the evening of Nov. 16th.
The national soccer team led by Jankovic assembled in Shenzhen on November 9, and the following day started an intense preparation training. Twenty-four players were selected, with the only European player returning from Turkey, Wu Shaocong, joining the squad. However, Harbour's center back Jiang Guangtai missed the training and the China-Thailand match due to an injury, and the team urgently drafted Shenzhen's right back Xu Haofeng to fill in.
The biggest controversy on the list was the exclusion of Eckerson, an immigrant player who plays for Chengdu Rongcheng. Despite Ickerson's mediocre performance this season, the national soccer team lacks a suitable replacement in the forward line. Currently, only four players under Jankovic's command, Wu Lei, Tan Long, Zhang Yuning and Xie Weijun, can play as a center forward, of which Xie Weijun lacks experience in international matches, and Zhang Yuning has just recovered from a serious injury, and his status is still uncertain. Jiang Guangtai's absence has undoubtedly brought a huge loss to the Chinese team. In addition to failing to participate in Yankovic's first training session due to injury, Jiang Guangtai has been the core center back of the national football team, with only Wu Jie and Yang Weiqi available for the task.
The overall strength of the Chinese team has declined in recent years and Jankovic's training has failed to live up to expectations. The national soccer team's performance in four warm-up matches during the international match window in September and October was disappointing. Veteran Wu Xi said in an interview, "Challenging Thailand away from home will be very tough, both in terms of weather and other aspects. But we will definitely prepare well." Wu Lei also admitted that the Chinese team no longer has an advantage in Asia, and its strength has declined compared to the past. "But that doesn't mean we will give up and lose confidence. No matter which opponent we face, we have to give our best."
According to the tournament system, the top 36 are divided into nine groups of four teams each, with the top two teams in the group advancing to the next stage of the World Qualifier. China's opponents in Group C include South Korea, Thailand and Singapore, and the team will strive for second place in the group.After challenging Thailand away on Nov. 16, the Chinese team will return to Shenzhen, and on Nov. 21, they will face the strongest team in the group, South Korea, at home.
