FIFA's move to accommodate 48 countries in the 2026 World Cup had many thinking about China's national team's chances, amid copious spending in the country's cash-rich domestic league. But talks about China qualifying in football's grandest competition continue to feature both hope and pessimism.
China's only foray in the competition's group stage back in 2002 continues to be a pleasant memory for many of the country's football fans. That, despite its dismal outcome - the national team went out battered with three straight losses.
No one expects China to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as well, but the recent decision to expand the competition to 48 countries had China Football Association's president Cai Zhenhua hoping. He said in a Yahoo Sports report that such development will be a dream come true for the national team.
Xinhua, for its part, noted that the World Cup's expansion will be instrumental in featuring the gradual development of Chinese football. Ex-national team striker Li Yi expressed his elation over the news through Weibo, as noted in a report by Quartz.
Amid a wave of positive reactions, some Chinese supporters continue to express negativity over the development. The South China Morning Post reported pessimistic statements over China's chances under the expanded format, which hint at further dismay should the national team still fail to qualify.
Critics of the new setup even went as far as claiming that FIFA intends to have China in at all costs, given the country's powerful domestic football market. Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail summed up his thoughts on the matter, even reminding everyone that the national team currently sits 82nd in the world rankings.
Amid the divisive rhetoric over the competition's expansion come 2026, China's chances to impress at the top of the footballing world remain a work in progress. One could only remain hopeful that all the massive investments earmarked in the country's domestic league would result to better gains for Chinese football.