Top China football boss says men’s national team is ‘fourth rate and we never learn’
Chinese Football Association president Song Kai delivers withering attack on state of game during interview with state media
A top Chinese football boss has launched a scathing attack on the state of the game in the country, calling the national team a “fourth-rate” side.
Song Kai’s damning verdict came after the men’s side lost 7-0 to Japan last September, but was only revealed by state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday, in the first episode of the series Dialogue with Chinese Football, titled Disparity.
The Chinese Football Association president made the comments when meeting with youth team coaches following the thrashing by their bitter rivals, but the documentary was aired the day after China beat Bahrain 1-0 in the final game of their ill-fated World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday.
“We really haven’t done well at the national team level,” Song said. “In the past, we were considered one of the best in Asia, but now we are only third- or fourth-rate, and we can’t even compare with Australia and Japan.
“Is this football? This is not football. In the past 20 years, Japanese football has focused on elite youth training. Chinese football doesn’t use the right methods, we don’t work hard, we are not humble, and we don’t learn.”
In the match in Chongqing, 18-year-old forward Wang Yudong scored a 93rd minute penalty to give his side only their third win in the third round of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.