National soccer team faces new challenges as it prepares for 2026 World Cup qualifiers
After warm-up matches against Vietnam and Uzbekistan, our national soccer team is about to embark on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. The latest official information from the AFC reveals that on November 16 at 8:30 p.m., the national football team will face Thailand on the road in the first match of the group stage. Immediately after that, the national soccer team will face the most outstanding team in the group, South Korea, at home in Shenzhen. According to the Tianjin Daily News, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) may consider replacing current coach Jankovic and seek new blood to help the national soccer team for the rest of the tournament if it fails to beat Thailand and South Korea in the first two rounds of the qualifiers.
Numerous fans have suggested that if Yankovic is dismissed, the Football Association may wish to consider the current Shandong Taishan Korean coach Cui Kangxi to take over the coaching whip of the national football team. However, Cui Kangxi and Shandong Taishan still have a contract in the body. Moreover, from the current overall strength of the national football team, Cui Kangxi does not seem to be willing to stir this pool of spring water. Despite the fans' clamor, the likelihood of Cui Kangxi taking over is slim to none. I personally believe that if the national football team in the first two rounds of the group stage in a row lost, 36 group stage out of the chance will become extremely slim. At this moment, the introduction of high-level foreign coaches may become the only way out for the national football team.
Recall that during the last World Cup, after Lippi stepped down, domestic coaches Li Tie and Li Xiaopeng took over as the new managers of the national soccer team. Although there is a gap between the coaching ability of domestic coaches and international coaches, the salary is lower. According to the 2021 and 2022 financial reports, the income of the CFA has plummeted, and the total debt is as high as 1.2 billion. This shows that the wealth of the CFA has been eroded by the former chairman Chen Xuyuan and his corrupt officials. It is feared that the FA cannot afford the salaries of high-level foreign coaches. Therefore, the money and the situation will determine the new coach of the national soccer team after Jankovic's dismissal.
Among the many candidates, I personally believe that former national soccer captain Zheng Zhi is expected to become the new national soccer coach. During his playing days, Zheng Zhi was a longtime captain of the national soccer team and Guangzhou Evergrande, and was well respected by the Chinese soccer community and players. After his retirement, Zheng Zhi followed Lippi into the national team's coaching staff and coached briefly after the turmoil at Guangzhou Evergrande. Although his coaching experience is still shallow, Zheng Zhi has a certain level among domestic coaches. If Zheng Zhi has the chance to replace Jankovic, he will return to the national football camp with a new identity and cherish the opportunity to play for his country. At the same time, he will also take this opportunity to accumulate coaching experience and prepare for his future coaching career.
