The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has officially sounded the rallying cry under the warm autumn sun, and on October 8, a notice unveiled the prelude to women's soccer, with Yongchuan in the spotlight from October 10-30, where the Chinese women's soccer team will embark on its third training session of the year and meet the challenge of the Yongchuan Championship. This is not only an event for the national teams, but also for the women's soccer teams of Uzbekistan and Vietnam, who have been invited to compete in the tournament. This is the first time that the Milicic-coached team will make its debut on home soil, which is very significant.
Milicic's lineup jumped out at 26 players. Compared to the second phase, the lineup has changed slightly. Zhang Linyan's absence left Yao Wei, Wu Haiyan and Zhao Yuxin as the stalwarts of the Wuhan women's soccer team. Zhao Yuxin won Milicic's favor again with her excellent performance in the league, while Yao Wei and Wu Haiyan are old faces in the national team. In addition, Guangdong Province's women's soccer team joined the tournament as the third-place finisher, with a reduced lineup compared to last time.
Women's Super League Golden Boot Yuan Cong, national team regulars Dou Jiaxing and Tang Jiali are among the names that highlight the list. Young players playing in the Euroleague, such as Wang Frost and Li Mengwen, have also joined the soccer feast. In May this year, Milicic led the team in the tournament with one draw and one loss in two matches. The Yongchuan Tournament became a stage for him to examine the players and sharpen the lineup.
The renewal of the coaching team is also a major attraction of this issue. The addition of former international players Li Dongna and Ren Guixin demonstrates the CFA's determination to develop young coaches. They have made a splash on the international stage and are now transforming into part of the coaching team to teach the young players. Yongchuan is not only an arena for soccer, but also a cradle for young coaches to grow.
The Yongchuan Four Nations Tournament, a branded event, provides valuable exchange opportunities for Chinese women's soccer teams. However, only three teams are participating this time. The organizing committee plans to announce the teams on the 10th, with women's soccer teams from Uzbekistan and Vietnam joining the fray. In the rankings, Uzbekistan is ranked 48th and Vietnam 37th, while the Chinese women's soccer team showed a strong performance by finishing 18th.
Zhang Linyan's injury has left Wuhan women's soccer team without a key player on the sidelines. She will receive consultation and treatment from medical experts before the start of training. Her absence will undoubtedly bring challenges to the team. We will see how Milicic will deal with this crisis.
Outside of the adult women's national team, the U20 National Youth League is about to kick off its training tour. The arrival of new coaches - former South Korean coach and England's Colin Bell - has reinvigorated the team. Their goal is to create another glory for Chinese soccer at the 2026 U20 Women's Asian Cup and possibly the U20 Women's World Cup.
