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Agence France-Presse

A top Chinese football official has urged Fifa to realise the “dream” of China’s fans by bringing the World Cup to the nation in 2030 – or even sooner.
Chinese Football Association vice-president Zhang Jian said Fifa’s rotation policy probably ruled out a return to Asia in 2026, after Qatar hosts the World Cup in 2022.
Zhang said that “it’s not very easy” for China to hold the World Cup in 2026. But he said the final decision was up to world body Fifa.
“Every Chinese football fan has a dream – to host a World Cup in China,” Zhang said in an interview in Goa, where an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) extraordinary congress was aborted on Tuesday.
“According to their charter it’s not very easy for us to get 2026... I of course hope it can be here sooner, but Fifa has their charter and we follow their decisions,” added Zhang.

Russia will host the next World Cup in 2018, before Qatar in 2022, with China, the world’s most populous nation and second biggest economy, keen to follow soon after.
With President Xi Jinping eager to host and even win football’s biggest tournament, conjecture is centring on when rather than if the World Cup will go to China.
Can China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, and Sepp Blatter’s nephew land World Cup?
Hosting the World Cup looks far more realistic than winning the competition, as China’s sole appearance in 2002 ended without a single point or even a goal.
China’s national team are currently ranked 78th, sandwiched between St Kitts and Nevis and Guatemala, although they remain in the running to reach Russia 2018.

Zhang could be in line for a powerful voice in Fifa as he is standing for a seat on the body’s new council, which has replaced the scandal-prone executive committee.
The AFC aborted elections to the council on Tuesday in protest at Fifa’s decision to bar a Qatari candidate. A reorganised poll is expected early next year.
How Alibaba aims to transform China’s sports market – and help bring the World Cup to the country
Chinese football has made huge strides in recent years owing to the rise of its domestic league, whose lavishly financed clubs are attracting top players and managers.
Chinese Super League clubs have spent just over €400 million euros (HK$3.5 billion) on players this year, luring stars like Liverpool target Alex Teixeira.

Zhang said the Chinese Super League now wanted to reach the level of the top divisions of Europe, which remain the world’s leading football competitions.
“We have attracted a lot of players to the Chinese Super League and companies have invested so much money,” said Zhang.
“It’s a good thing for us but we should be professional and try to be a better league and catch up with the higher levels of European leagues,” he added.
‘Betrayed promises’ cost China a chance to host World Cup, says Fifa candidate Jerome Champagne
Zhang was also confident that China’s growing legion of foreign players would help the national team, rather than hinder the development of home-grown talent.
“China’s national team is a problem. Obviously we haven’t been very good over the past few years,” said Zhang.
“But the Super League is a very important base for the national team and you can notice we’re trying to build our national team better,” he added.


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Chinese Super League 2016

Top official urges Fifa to hand China their ‘dream’ of hosting World Cup

A policeman looks on as Chinese soccer fans cheer during the 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match between China and Iran held in Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning province, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. (Color China Photo via AP)

Jiangsu Suning's Alex Teixeira celebrates during the Chinese Super League football between Jiangsu Suning and Shandong Luneng on March 5, 2016 in Nanjing. / AFP PHOTO / STR

Iran's Mehdi Torabi, left, and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, third from left, fight for the ball against China's Li Xuepeng, second from left, and Feng Xiaoting, right, during the World Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match in Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning province, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. (Color China Photo via AP)

(FILES) This file photo taken on September 1, 2016 shows Chinese fans carrying a huge national flag during the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between South Korea and China in Seoul. Chinese clubs have splashed out hundreds of millions of dollars in the quest for football glory but they could learn a few lessons from South Korea, which remains an Asian powerhouse at club and international level. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE

Can China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, and Sepp Blatter’s nephew land World Cup?

Wang Jianlin, the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group in China speaks during an event announcing strategic partnership between Wanda Group and Fifa in Beijing on March 21, 2016. Photo: Reuters

(150121) -- BEIJING, Jan. 21, 2015 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Wanda Group Wang Jianlin (C) holds the jersey presented by chairman of Atletico de Madrid Enrique Cerezo (R) and CEO of Atletico de Madrid Miguel Angel Gil during the agreement signing ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 21, 2015. Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin has bought 20 percent stake in Spanish league champions Atletico de Madrid, Wanda Group announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

FIFA Vice-President David Chung (L) and the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group in China, Wang Jianlin arrive for an event announcing strategic partnership between Wanda Group and FIFA in Beijing March 21, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

(L-R) FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil, FIFA Vice-President David Chung, the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group in China Wang Jianlin and the first vice president of the Football Association of the People's Republic of China Zhang Jian attend an event announcing strategic partnership between Wanda Group and FIFA in Beijing March 21, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

epa04899906 China's Dalian Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin (L) and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) Chief Executive Andrew Messick (R) shake hands during a signing ceremony at a hotel in Beijing, China, 27 August 2015. According to a statement from Wanda Group, it has reached an agreement to acquire WTC for 650-million US dollar (573-million euro) plus debt. The WTC, under Providence Equity Partners, licenses the Ironman brand. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

No Caption Available.

How Alibaba aims to transform China’s sports market – and help bring the World Cup to the country

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero took a selfie with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister David Cameron at the Manchester City football academy.

Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma attends the opening ceremony of the second annual World Internet Conference in Wuzhen town of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, China, December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Aly Song

*** ONE TIME USE ONLY *** Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chief executive officer of the FC Bayern Munich, shows off his football skills during a press conference for the strategic cooperation between FC Bayern Munich and Tmall, the B2C platform of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, in Hangzhou city, east China's Zhejiang province, 27 May 2015. Newly crowned German champion Bayern Munich will open a store on China's largest online retail platform when the club announced the cooperation with e-commerce giant Alibaba on Wednesday (27 May 2015). The club, believed to have about 90 million fans in China, will sell jerseys and other products in men's, women's and children's categories in the store that is set up on Tmall, the business-to-customer platform of Alibaba. As one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, Bayern has sped up its pace to mine China's large soccer market. In July, the team will also play three friendlies against Inter Milan, Valencia and Chinese champions Guangzhou Eve

Zhang Dazhong with Jose Mourinho and ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes at Alisports HQ. Photo: Alisports

Top official urges Fifa to hand China their ‘dream’ of hosting World Cup

Chinese FA vice-president wants tournament by 2030 or before