China Prepares for World Cup Asian Qualifiers with New Squad Announcements

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) revealed a roster of 27 players who will participate in training as they gear up for the World Cup Asian qualifying matches scheduled for June. Among those selected are Under-20 talents like Wang Yudong from Zhejiang FC and Liu Chengyu from Shanghai Shenhua. Wang has made a notable impact in the Chinese Super League (CSL), scoring eight goals in 12 matches, making him the only player from China in the top ten of the league's scoring chart, while Liu has also contributed with three goals in four games this season.

To keep their World Cup dreams alive, the Chinese team must secure wins against Indonesia and Bahrain next month. They will first compete against Indonesia in Jakarta on June 5, followed by a home match against Bahrain in Chongqing on June 10. With domestic leagues on hold until mid-June, this window allows national players to come together for intensive training sessions.

Notably, the squad welcomes back Wu Lei from Shanghai Port, who is returning from knee surgery that sidelined him since early 2025. Additionally, the inclusion of Yang Mingyang, a former Switzerland U21 player now with Chengdu Rongcheng, strengthens the midfield, especially given that Xie Wenneng from Shandong Luneng will miss the match against Indonesia due to a suspension. The game against Indonesia is seen as crucial, although historically China has experienced success against them, having previously won 2-1 in their last qualifying encounter in October 2024.

Indonesia, on their part, recently announced a 32-man squad, which includes 18 players who hold naturalized statuses, such as Kevin Diks who is set to join Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Indonesian team showed their strength with a notable 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 victory against Bahrain. Both teams will need to finalize their rosters to 23 players before the important qualifying fixtures commence.