China looks to 'Serg' in Saudi

Ivankovic puts faith in newly naturalized Brazilian midfielder, as his side attempts to spring a surprise in Riyadh

With a new offensive weapon in its arsenal and a solid training camp paying dividends, Team China is primed to resume its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in style, aiming to stun host Saudi Arabia in a crucial fixture on Thursday.

Despite being halfway through the third-phase of qualifiers and ranked bottom in the six-team Group C, the Chinese men's team has arrived in Riyadh in high spirits stemming from a naturalized new recruit and the feel-good factor of a morale-boosting warm-up win.

The result of the late-night match in Riyadh, which kicks off early Friday morning, Beijing time, will decide Team China's fate one way or the other, even with three more qualifiers left to play.