After the approval of the "over-all soccer reform plan" on Friday, Feb. 27, news has been circulating that the long-dreamt-of China-hosted World Cup will soon become a reality.
The approving body, the country's central reform group, is chaired by President Xi Jinping, who himself is an avid soccer fan.
"It will probably hasten China's race for a World Cup," Ding Changbao, chair of the Football Association of Zhidan, stated. Zhidan is a city in Shaanxi Province, northwest China.
Jilin sports chief Song Jixin believed that winning a World Cup bid could bring a lot of benefits "in many aspects" to China.
Song pointed out that "apart from making profits, staging the World Cup will be a great boost to Chinese soccer."
Shoring up Song's analysis, Beijing Institute of Social Sciences' Sports Culture director Jin Shan said: "Japan and South Korea set a good example for China as the jointly held 2002 World Cup helped raise the standard of their own game."
Gregorio Manzano, the head coach of the Chinese Super League side Beijing Guo'an, is confident that the country's soccer team will be able to put up a good match, citing that hosting a World Cup could all the more improve the players' performance.
"China should not wait any longer to bid for the World Cup. Hosting a World Cup will be a good chance to improve Chinese soccer," he said.
The Spanish national who had brought success in some Spain-based clubs emphasized that "the most important thing is participating."
"Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup and didn't win the trophy, but that experience boosted the development of their league and cultivation of talents," he further recounted.
Back in 2011, President Xi himself stated his personal ambitions about the country's position in the soccer arena. He identified three goals, namely: to be able to play for the World Cup again, to host the anticipated sports event and to grab the championship tilt.
In 2010, China's soccer chief attempted to push forward a 2026 World Cup bid. However, due to lack of government support, the prime key in attaining the soccer dream was dropped.