IndoNEWSian.com – The Chinese national football team faces immense pressure as they need to secure victories in both critical matches during the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to maintain their chances of progressing.
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Chinese players celebrate scoring a goal in a World Cup qualifier match. Image courtesy of AFP.  |
Currently, China ranks last in Group C with six points, tied with Bahrain but trailing due to goal difference (-13 versus -8). In third place, Indonesia leads by a margin of three points, boasting a goal difference of -6.
According to tournament rules, rankings are determined first by points, then goal difference, goals scored and finally head-to-head records. Even if China win both of their remaining matches, against Indonesia on June 5 and Bahrain on June 10, they can still be eliminated.
Losing to Indonesia would instantly terminate their chances of qualifying. This high-pressure situation has clearly impacted the team.
“This is a fight for survival. Winning is the only choice. There’s no space for backing down,” said Forward Zhang Yuning.
Xinhua
, adding that as the away side, China must turn pressure into momentum and showcase its strengths, training results, and team unity.
Wang Yudong, a promising new addition to the team, stated: “Our experienced players constantly offer their insights. As for me, I aim to concentrate on each match, leveraging my pace and abilities to confront our adversaries and contribute to giving our team an advantage.”
To alleviate the strain, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has brought in seasoned sports psychologists to assist players with managing their stress, as reported by local Chinese media outlets.
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Sohu It was reported that Head Coach Branko Ivanović has been organizing prolonged training sessions among team members, lasting over 100 minutes, to keep everyone sharp and maintain pace under intense pressure.
All 25 members of the team currently compete in the local league. In comparison to the previous match where they won 2-1 against Indonesia back in October 2024, this updated roster includes some fresh faces like defender Wang Shiqin, midfielders Serginho and Yang Mingyang, along with two young strikers aged 18—Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu.
Serginho, who was born in Brazil, debuted with China during their 0-2 defeat against Australia in March. Yang Mingyang, who hails from Switzerland, successfully completed his naturalization process and gained eligibility to represent China as of May 19. Born in 1995, this midfielder had formerly played for Switzerland’s teams from U16 up to U20 levels.
The game between Indonesia and China is set to begin at 8:45 p.m. on June 5 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
