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Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Chinese Football Association (CFA)
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) was founded in 1924 and is the main governing body for soccer in China. The group officially affiliated itself with Fifa in 1931 and joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1974. The CFA runs the national men's, women's and youth teams for soccer, beach soccer and futsal. The CFA is governed by the Chinese State General Administration of Sports. In 2012, two former CFA chiefs, a former national team captain, the country's top referee, and at least four former national team players were convicted for taking bribes and sentenced to time in prison in a crackdown against corruption in the sport.
An entrepreneur in China, promised each player in a local football team a car if they won a key tournament then reneged on her pledge when they did. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote
Trending in China

China entrepreneur promises football players a car each, retracts offer after big win

Team members express private discontent after withdrawal of vehicle pledge; soccer association say they ‘understand’ businesswoman’s position.

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong’s footballers could play China, Chinese Taipei regularly in new league

Chinese football fans urge more support, less interference for latest coach Shao

Trending in China

Togo international Asamoah in paralysis fear after China football match collision

Samuel Asamoah struck an advertising hoarding with his neck after being pushed while playing for Guangxi Pingguo in a League One game.

Samuel Asamoah is recovering from surgery and is in a stable condition according to his club. Photo: Getty Images
Ante Milicic

China boss Milicic wants country to focus on future or risk falling further behind

Women’s head coach Ante Milicic says World Cup and Olympic failures mean it is time to stop dwelling on past success.

Fifa World Cup

World Football Summit: game in China tipped to come back from brink

Pere Garcia, the Henan FC sporting director, expects China to end World Cup pain by 2034, optimistic over players earning European deals.

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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong striker Udebuluzor closing in on Estonia transfer amid Spanish interest

Young centre-forward keen to leave German club VfR Mannheim, but move to China League One collapsed following controversial remarks.

Hong Kong’s Michael Udebuluzor (second from right) shoots against Iran at Hong Kong Stadium last year. Photo: Sam Tsang
Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign

2 more Chinese football officials jailed and fined in corruption crackdown

Ex-head of Chinese Super League Liu Jun, former CFA disciplinary committee chief Wang Xiaoping both sentenced to more than decade behind bars.

East Asian Football Championship

Hong Kong striker Udebuluzor sacked by China club 24 hours after signing contract

After days of rumour and speculation, Suzhou Dongwu on Friday announced the signing of two new players, neither of whom was the striker.

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong striker angers China fans with post-match comments, asks for forgiveness

Michael Udebuluzor tells the Post he may have to reconsider move to Chinese League One side Suzhou Dongwu.

Michael Udebuluzor (left) fights for the ball during Hong Kong’s East Asian Championship clash with China. Photo: AP
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Is Chan recall sign China are running scared of Hong Kong? Nothing to it, HKFA says

Shinichi Chan returns to club Shanghai Shenhua ahead of Tuesday’s game, but teammates have not yet been recalled from China squad.

Hong Kong left-back Shinichi Chan (right) in action against South Korea in the East Asian Football Championship. Photo: Xinhua
East Asian Football Championship

East Asian Championship: China lose to Japan, face Hong Kong wooden spoon fight

Mao Hosoya blasts Japan in front after 11 minutes, before Chinese fate sealed by second-half Henry Heroki Mochizuki strike.

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East Asian Football Championship

26 years after World Cup final loss to USA, are China’s women even best in Asia?

Chinese concede late equaliser to South Korea titan Ji So-yun, who was key for USA boss Emma Hayes during eight decorated Chelsea years.

East Asian Football Championship

Give women top jobs, says China’s Wu, as 4 men take charge at Asia football comp

Captain Wu Haiyan says change would be ‘big improvement’ for game ahead of women’s regional tournament, Japan head coach reveals why he quit Man City.

China captain Wu Haiyan (right) speaks during a press conference ahead of her side’s match against South Korea in the East Asian Football Championship. Photo: Xinhua
East Asian Football Championship

China’s new era gets off to losing start at East Asian Football Championship

South Korea leave A-listers at home but still too powerful for China in opening match of East Asian Football Championships.

South Korea’s Lee Dong-gyeong (left) celebrates with his teammate Kim Moon-hwan after scoring against China at Yongin Mireu Stadium. Photo: AP
Trending in China

Chinese football team fined for channelling evil spirits to help beat rivals

Changchun Xidu found guilty of placing paper charms in opponents’ dressing room before matches.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Beijing Guoan team bus seized over debt issues, players forced to hire bikes

Real estate company Sinobo Group, which holds a 64 per cent stake in the club, reportedly owes more than 3.68 billion yuan (US$502 million).

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Fifa World Cup 2026

Chinese football bosses finally confirm Ivankovic sacked after World Cup failure

China’s defeat to Indonesia this month ended any hope the national team had of reaching the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US.

Branko Ivankovic leaves a press conference after the World Cup qualifier against Bahrain on June 10, his last game in charge. Photo: Xinhua

Ivankovic fate a mystery, as China eye South Korea’s Shin for top football job

Reports swirl in mainland media over fate of Branko Ivankovic, as former Indonesia boss Shin Tae-yong throws his hat in the ring.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

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.

Fifa World Cup 2026

China fans savage football team after World Cup failure, say it should be axed

Fans say side ‘a waste of national resources’ and wonder if money might be better spent on ‘more aircraft carriers’.

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China full-back Hu Hetao (centre, rear) is consoled after defeat to Indonesia ended their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals. Photo: Xinhua
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Chinese club sign ex-PSG, AC Milan star, eye place in Hong Kong Premier League

Canton United announce an agreement for the arrival of former France international Jeremy Menez.

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Jeremy Menez celebrates after scoring for AC Milan during their 2016 Italian Cup semi-final second leg victory over Alessandria. Photo: AP

Chinese football legend Li Tie loses appeal against 20-year corruption sentence

Former Everton midfielder and China player and coach had appealed against the prison term he was handed in December.

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Fifa World Cup 2026

San Jose’s Leroux eyes US World Cup spot, but has thought about playing for China

American midfielder, whose mother is Chinese, says he has wondered where his international loyalties might lie.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Hangzhou becomes sea of red as China fans brace for decisive World Cup qualifier

China must beat Australia on Tuesday to have any chance of securing automatic qualification to 2026 tournament.

China coach Branko Ivankovic speaks to the press ahead of his side’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Australia in Hangzhou. Photo: Xinhua
Fifa World Cup

China will fail to qualify for 2026 Fifa World Cup, DeepSeek predicts

The team, who are bottom of their group and face Saudi Arabia, have only a 2.6 per cent chance of finishing in the top two, it says.

Deepseek estimates there to be a 70.7 per cent chance that China will finish in the bottom two of Group C, thereby missing out again on a World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Chinese Super League

Chinese footballer injured on trip to Spain dies hours before 19th birthday

Guo Jiaxuan had been in hospital in Beijing since returning from Madrid after head injury during match left him brain-dead.

Chinese Super League

Brain-dead Chinese footballer flown home as family seeks answers

Source says Beijing association stalling over whether insurance was arranged, and timeline of Guo Jiaxuan’s injury in Spain.

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