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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.
NBA star Kyrie Irving (right), the chief creative officer of Chinese sportswear brand Anta, at an event with fans in Chengdu in June. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP
Wealth: Alternative Investments

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Sport is becoming a global asset class, where China is expanding from manufacturing to backing teams, pioneering tech and trading media rights.

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Standard Chartered Global Private Bank
Asian Games 2026

China ditch Fifa Asean Cup, to face North Korea, Palestine in Asian Cup warm-up

Fifa World Cup 2026

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Chinese Super League

Chinese teen Wei Xiangxin signs multi-year contract with French club Auxerre

The Under-17 international signs five-year deal with Ligue 1 side after moving from Chinese Super League outfit Meizhou Hakka.

Wei Xiangxin (right) takes a shot against Thailand in an U-17 Asian Cup match in Saudi Arabia last year. Photo: Getty Images

Thanks but no thanks: China fans happy to see Cabo Verde friendly scrapped

Idea raised by African nation’s football association, with vice-president also sharing advice on how China’s men’s team can improve.

Ex-England striker Michael Owen delights Chinese fans at Village Super League

One-time Liverpool and Real Madrid star plays in friendly match in Guizhou to fulfil promise he made last year after region was hit by floods.

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United States

With no team in World Cup, Chinese fans root for Ronaldo, Messi … and a referee

Chinese team has not played in tournament for 24 years, so supporters follow world’s two most famous players and a strict mainland official.

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Chinese football fan Zhai Yibo before the Portugal v DR Congo Fifa World Cup match at Portugal House in New York. Photo: Lucy Quaggin

China youth football star badly beaten by adult players after ‘verbal dispute’

Altercation between Zhangjiajie side and Guangdong Mingtu under-16 academy team leaves one player with broken hand and injuries to face, body.

Fifa World Cup 2026

China World Cup hopes pinned on Ma Ning, could ‘impartial’ ref oversee final?

The 46-year-old is poised for second finals, while country’s footballers must wait at least another four years to add to 2002 appearance.

Young Chinese footballer makes history signing for Barcelona’s famed academy

The 14-year-old Li Haoyan will join the club’s under-15 side next season after attracting interest from other teams like Espanyol, Villarreal.

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Young footballer Li Haoyan played for CF Damm in the top-tier regional youth league in Spain. Photo: Weibo
Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

China youth team finish runners-up in U17 Asian Cup after narrow defeat to Japan

Head coach Bin Ukishima said his players ‘will gain a lot from the trials of this tournament, which will help them improve’ in the future.

Zhao Songyuan scored China’s second goal from the penalty spot but it was not enough to beat Japan in the AFC U17 Asian Cup final. Photo: Xinhua

China bans 17 people for life, 48 for five years or less and fines 1 team

The latest penalties ‌build on earlier rounds ⁠of ⁠punishment this year and in ‌September 2024 that saw 116 ‌individuals banned for life.

Fifa World Cup 2026

China youth teams make World Cups amid Fifa hopes of seeing nation back at the top

Both under-17 men’s and women’s teams reach final stages of Asian Cup to book World Cup spots as Mattias Grafstrom praises Chinese system.

Wang Yudong

China’s emerging football generation rising to the occasion gives fans hope

Young players, who reached AFC U23 Asian Cup final, are playing pivotal roles in their club teams’ strong positions in the domestic standings.

Forward Wang Yudong (left), who plays for Zhejiang FC, is the 19-year-old poster boy of a talented and likeable emerging generation. Photo: Imaginechina

Irish footballers return to China 50 years after tour akin to ‘going to the moon’

Players from a university in Ireland were invited to play in China in 1976 – and accidentally found themselves witnessing history.

A squad of football players from University College Dublin were invited by the Chinese football association to play a series of matches across the country in 1976. Photo: X/ChinaEmbIreland

Children’s tournament at centre of latest match-fixing scandal in China football

Governing body bans four adults, launches investigation after teams trying to avoid winning score six own goals between them in under-10s game.

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China under-16 women’s team beat hosts France for second win in invitational event

Chinese have two wins from two matches in six-team Montaigu Cup, and are second in standings behind Japan, who are also unbeaten.

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Fifa World Cup 2026

China football team sucker-punched by early goals in wake-up call against Cameroon

Defeat to higher-ranked ‘Indomitable Lions’ in Fifa Series in Melbourne comes four days after win over World Cup-bound Curacao.

China’s Liu Haofan (left) wins an aerial battle against Cameroon in his team’s loss in a Fifa Series match at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
2026 Olympic Winter Games

Chinese Winter Olympic champs Ning Zhongyan, Wang Xindi to play league football

Speed skating history maker and aerials skiing ace will play for Harbin and Shenyang respectively in Northeast Super League.

China bans 73 from all football for life, hits 13 teams with fines, points loss

Former Chinese Football Association president Chen Xuyuan, ex-national team coach Li Tie among those punished.

China’s under-23 football team receive rapturous welcome home after Asian Cup run

Keeper Li Hao’s solid performances help increase his social media following by more than 600,000 followers; Xu Bin linked to Premier League.

Kuai Jiwen (front) of the Chinese under-23 men’s football team hugging fans at Beijing Daxing International Airport on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese U-23s win credit for ‘igniting new hope’ despite Asian Cup loss to Japan

Mainland youngsters concede twice in each half as Japan retain title; fans and executives draw encouragement for future.

Disappointed China players reflect on their 4-0 defeat by Japan in Jeddah. Photo: Xinhua
Fifa

China football fans set to flock to Saudi Arabia to support under-23 team in cup final

The Chinese consulate-general in Jeddah quickly shut down online rumours that Chinese passport holders could attend the final for free.

China defy expectations to reach final of AFC U-23 Asian Cup for first time

Head coach Antonio Puche Vicente is full of praise for his team: ‘I think we played an excellent game today, both with and without the ball’.

China make history by advancing to quarter-finals of AFC U-23 Asian Cup

The team finishes second in the group behind Australia with one win and two draws, will play Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals in Jeddah.

China’s under-23 football team (orange) finished second in their group at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Photo: Xinhua
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.

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
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

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

Asian chiefs planning new Nations League similar to the one in Europe, aimed at raising standards and revenue.

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

Global search ends close to home with another veteran of 2002 World Cup squad appointed and asked to ‘rebuild confidence’.

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