New China coach is aiming at 2026 World Cup qualification

Newly appointed China head coach Aleksandar Jankovic has his sights on 2026 World Cup qualification.

Despite major government ambitions for the team, China haven’t qualified for the World Cup since 2002 when they lost all three of their group matches without scoring a single goal.

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The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, with at least eight countries from the Asian Football Confederation set to feature.

“I know that every long journey starts with a small step. As a head coach, I must have a clear picture of the big target –the general goal is for the 2026 World Cup, and the Chinese team must play,” Jankovic told reporters on Wednesday.