Japan crushes China 7-0 in World Cup qualifier in Saitama

In a World Cup qualifier held in Saitama, Japan, the Chinese men's national soccer team suffered a devastating defeat, losing 7-0 to their Japanese counterparts. This match marked China's most significant loss to Japan in their soccer history and highlighted the ongoing struggles of the Chinese team, which has been underperforming despite government efforts to improve the sport. President Xi Jinping, a known soccer enthusiast, had previously pledged to enhance the national team's performance, but the results have been disappointing. The match saw Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma score in the first half, followed by two goals from Takumi Minamino in the second half, along with contributions from Daizen Maeda, Junya Ito, and Takefusa Kubo. The coach of the Chinese team, Branko Ivankovic, described the night as the most challenging of his career, reflecting the emotional toll of such a humiliating defeat. Reactions in China were notably subdued, with state media providing minimal coverage of the loss. The China Sports Daily published a brief report, while commentators expressed frustration over the state of Chinese soccer. Zhang Feng emphasized that improvement requires skill and training rather than political promises, while Tang Yinghong suggested that football may not be a suitable focus for China, given its success in other sports. Despite this setback, China still has nine qualifying matches left and remains hopeful of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. However, the team's current FIFA ranking at No. 87 raises concerns about its ability to compete on the global stage.