China's National Football Team Faces Bahrain Amid World Cup Qualification Failure

The Chinese national football team is set to host Bahrain in Chongqing on Tuesday, following their unfortunate elimination from the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Expectations for World Cup qualification are no longer relevant for the team, but the match holds significance as it represents their chance to avoid finishing last in their Asian Football Confederation qualifying group. According to sports commentator Wang Dazhao, the motivation now centers on redeeming their standings rather than aiming for World Cup contention.

After returning from Jakarta, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Indonesia—a match that confirmed their exit from contention—China finds itself at the bottom of Group C, with only six points amassed over nine games. With only one match left, progression to the next stage has become impossible, as only the top two teams from the group qualify directly for the World Cup. Coach Branko Ivankovic acknowledged his responsibility for the team's lackluster performance, emphasizing that their failure to navigate what he termed a challenging group ultimately falls on his shoulders.

Critics like Wang point to Ivankovic's cautious strategies and questionable decision-making as factors that hindered the squad’s potential. The absence of key players, particularly star striker Wu Lei, has also been a detrimental factor in their unsuccessful campaign. Wang remains optimistic but asserts that the team must learn from its failures and confront its weaknesses for genuine improvement and progress.

The upcoming game against Bahrain will be held at the Chongqing Longxing Football Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 60,000. Remarkably, tickets for the match went on sale and were quickly sold out, indicative of the unwavering interest in football among fans despite the national team’s disappointing performance. Previous home games across various cities in China have drawn impressive crowds, including a record attendance of 70,588 at the match against Australia. This enthusiasm is deeply rooted in the fond memories of past achievements, particularly China’s historical qualification for the 2002 World Cup, leaving fans hopeful for a revival of their national football fortunes.