From Football To Esports? China FA Announces Pivot After Failed 2026 WC Qualifiers
After failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, China's football authority plans to create a national esports football team to compete in FIFA and AFC events.
In an unexpected move following its failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, China's top football authority announced plans on Tuesday to establish a national esports football team.
The initiative marks a surprising pivot toward virtual competition, as the country's traditional football program continues to struggle.
According to a statement from the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the new esports team will represent China in competitions 'organised by FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and other organisations."
China's decision comes in the wake of a disappointing performance in the World Cup qualifiers. A 1-0 loss to Indonesia last month led to the dismissal of national team coach Branko Ivankovic, effectively ending China's hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament.
Currently ranked 94th in the FIFA World Rankings—two spots below Luxembourg—China's football program continues to fall short of expectations, much to the frustration of its large and passionate fan base.
News of the CFA's entry into esports football has prompted varied reactions across Chinese social media.
'I think this might actually work," one user wrote on Weibo. 'We have quite a considerable esports player base in our country, and the talent selection is relatively fair."
However, skepticism remains among others.
'They have messed up football in real life, and now they want to mess up football in esports," another user commented.
As the CFA moves forward with this digital initiative, it remains to be seen whether success in the virtual arena can restore national pride—or invite further criticism.
(with AFP inputs)
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