New boss, new blood, same goals

Djurdjevic looks to youth, as China sets out to reach 2030 World Cup

With its 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes officially dashed, China's men's national team is turning the page — and looking ahead. A new generation of players is setting its sights on a longer-term goal: making it to the 2030 tournament.

The journey begins in earnest next week at the East Asian Cup in South Korea, where a youthful Chinese squad will make its first appearance under new interim leadership — a symbolic fresh start for a team eager to move past its most recent disappointment.

The national team began training Wednesday at the Dalian Football Youth Training Base in Liaoning province. With the tournament kicking off on July 7, the camp marks more than just physical preparation — it's the first concrete step in a multi-year rebuilding effort.