Youth football: Bright new hope for China

Chinese football has delivered exciting performances in the first half of 2026. At the beginning of the year, the U-23 men's team finished as runners-up at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, achieving its best result in the tournament's history. In May, the U-17 men's team advanced to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup final for the first time in 22 years, successfully earning a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Players of China celebrate after winning the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup semifinal match between China and Vietnam in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Such outstanding achievements at the youth level are the result of 11 years of dedicated training and steady reform in Chinese football. It also sparks hopes for the steady recovery and upward development of football in China after years in the doldrums.

Back in 2015, China released the "Overall Plan for the Reform and Development of Chinese Football," prioritizing youth football development, campus football and reserve talent cultivation as part of the national strategy.

Thanks to 11 years of unremitting efforts, China's youth talent pool has now expanded dramatically. The number of national demonstration schools for campus football jumped from 5,000 in 2015 to more than 50,000 in 2025, representing a tenfold increase. During the same period, the number of registered young footballers has grown from under 40,000 to 109,000, alongside more than 18,000 teams taking part in regular football competitions.

Zhao Songyuan (R) of China shoots during the group match between China and Japan at the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Luo Chen)

Chinese football is gradually breaking free from the long-standing predicament of insufficient talent and limited selection channels. A complete talent cultivation system covering grassroots school programs, professional club youth training and national team selection has been fully established, building a solid foundation for continued breakthroughs by China's youth teams.

The Chinese women's youth teams have delivered equally impressive performances. In April, the women's U-20 team advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup and qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, ending an eight-year absence from the global tournament. In May, the women's U-17 team also booked its ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, meaning both China's men's and women's U-17 teams will compete on the world youth football stage later this year.

The standout youth players are the first cohort of core talents cultivated under a decade-long football reform drive. They will develop into the backbone of China's senior national teams and compete for the country in upcoming international football tournaments.