What's happening with football in China?

In 2011, Chinese President Xi Jinping, dreamt of a Chinese national football team: “participating in a World Cup,” “hosting the World Cup,” and, most ambitiously, “becoming World Cup champions”.

But after years of investment into the Chinese domestic league, racking up billions of dollars of debt in the process, the positivity of half a decade earlier has evaporated almost as soon as it appeared.

Why did the president want to develop football? Was he overly ambitious? And what has happened to football in China?

Jon Mackenzie explains, Marco Bevilacqua illustrates.

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#ChineseSuperLeague

[Tifo]

There are a couple of mistakes in this morning's video: Kashmir is not shown correctly, neither are Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Sorry everyone - Tifo team.

[drex]

Bringing in Marquee players from abroad to the league isn't gonna improve the national team. They should have invested all that money into grass roots and nurturing home grown talent but instead they chose lazy shortcuts.

[Driftking]

I lived in Shanghai and had the leaders of Juventus' youth academy spoke at the university I was in. Based on what was said China will never be a force because it's banned its local teams from playing major team academies after Chinese teams were beaten easily, thus removing any benchmark. Secondly, the culture would rather have kids focus on their education than chase a football career, which based on global statistics, is unlikely they will even go pro

[caesar_]

A big reason the sport has not grown as the chinese government envisioned is because Basketball is seemingly winning the arms race for viewership in China over football

[ruano]

China's football infrastructure and maturity was pretty low to start with and I think the issues highlighted in this video is part of its (brutal) learning curve. Money was pumped in but was wasted on big name players who didn't really have the right attitude and the gulf in ability between them and the local players were too huge for it to be beneficial. Lots of facilities may have been built but it takes a long time to train all the coaches required. The new rules to restrict the outlandish spending is probably a good long term move even if it looks like it has just 'destroyed' the league in the short term. I think China needs foreign coaches and players but not big stars. A large contingent of mid-level coaches and decent players (but not stars) would be good to teach the local coaches how to coach teams and show the local players what it takes to be a footballer would be beneficial I think. The goal has to be to learn from foreign talent rather than win with foreign talent otherwise there will never be a motivation to develop local talent.

The long term plan should be theoretically achievable. With China have such a large population and state level resources to spend, just statistically speaking there should be plenty of people with the right natural talent to be successful footballers. The tricky bit is to have the right infrastructure and coaching to bring those talents to fruition.

[daveoaktowers]

China should look to Iceland and Faroe Island how they've invested in facilities rather than glitzy transfers. This bore fruit with vast improvements to the national side etc.

Even the Faroe Islands are no longer a whipping side for all European clubs, they can challenge higher ranked teams now.

[anamitrasikdar]

I like how Tifo Included Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan within China while showing the map of China @1:15

[EseAgoaye]

Speaking of China, I recall reading about the Caribbean Football Union, a read a part about Jack Warner rubbishing the idea of a Caribbean football team, in similar vain to the West Indies cricket team. He mentioned that if countries are being compared on size, why haven't China qualified?

[markamar_]

Great video bro, when i checked team call Guanzhou Fc i was shocked because their transfer value is only 3 mil. They won chinese league couple of times and twice Afc, they had players like Talisca, Paulinho, Elkeson and now they are in relegation zone and have some random Chinese players

[MrTobytherat]

The Korean Coach walked up the stairs to a temple and asked god when will the Korean national team win the world cup. God answered in 50 years. The Korean coach starting crying saying that it will not be within his lifetime. Next the Japanese coach walked up to the temple and ask God when will the Japan National team win the world cup. God said in 100 years. The Japanese coach started crying saying that it will not be in his lifetime. The Chinese coach walked up to the temple asking God when will the Chinese national team win the world cup. God stayed silent for a while and then started crying and saying not in his lifetime.

[blankstatement]

What’s wrong is that China doesn’t have a grassroots culture with football like countries Brazil, Italy and many other western countries have. Money alone can’t build a grassroots footballing culture in a country.

[t.xaviersalgado]

honestly, it's better to invest in 100 football pitches than in one stadium, and 1000 football trainers and teachers than in 1 football idol. in the long term it yelds more results

[TheThirdWorldCitizen]

Main issue is that they skipped the three key factors to start building a powerful football league
- Investing and growing your talent
- Bringing in analysts, coaches and staff that know what they are doing
- Becoming attractive to other nationalities in the continent.

On that last point I’ll elaborate. It’s easier to grow in importance when players from other leagues are willing to play on your league despite interest from European clubs. Having not only the best players in china, but the best players in Asia is a huge bump in development.

[otakusiki]

My friends and I were having a discussion about this a few days ago. Great to see an in-depth video about it. Thanks

[amirfarhan]

can you make a video about Malaysian football? there's a big fan base in Malaysia for football and only in recent years the football league in malaysia is showing major improvements, they've got a long ways to go but i believe they're on the right track.

[anthonydennis]

Having lived their for 6 years, China as a country works on 关系 (guanxi), essentially relationships/connections and who you know.

Grassroots football is pretty much none existent and player development and resourcing doesn’t necessarily go to the best and most talented players but it will go to whoever’s family has the better 关系 and better connections whether that’s through wealth or political power.

[akachiedoggy]

It's a grassroots problem. Parents in rural areas rarely allow their kids to play football. The main way is go to school, get a job & earn a living.
Am 💯 that talents of Ronaldo, haaland & Messi's level are all hiding inside China & India.

[Samuel-erbf]

these videos are great to watch during breakfast. From the soft narration to the background music.

[TheDarkRaptor]

Man, I miss the times when Shanghai SIPG would run riot with Hulk, Arnautavic, Oscar etc. The league has barely any star players left.

[maityman]

Chinese Women did win the Womens AFC recently though. The Chinese are extremely frustrated with what they view as the incredibly entitled Mens team and are beginning to follow the Women's team. Interestingly enough this is a viewership pattern that Canada went through. Frustration with the Mens team leading to acceptance and celebration of the better Women's side.