China’s Football Crisis: 16 Consecutive Losses to Japan Spark Outrage

Chinese football fans were left stunned after the national team suffered a crushing 0-7 defeat to Japan in the 2026 Asia North and Central America World Cup qualifiers.

The Associated Press reported that the match, held in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, marked China’s 16th consecutive loss to Japan, with the team failing to secure a single win in their last 16 encounters.

The loss was not only China’s largest margin of defeat against Japan but also the most goals conceded in a single World Cup qualifying match.

Prior to the match, Chinese media outlets had expressed optimism, despite being grouped with Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia in Group C. However, the team’s dismal performance sparked widespread criticism, with one media outlet stating, “The roots of Chinese football are rotten, and instead of trying to improve, they should be torn down and rebuilt.”

Pan Zhiyi, former captain of the Chinese football team, expressed his frustration, saying, “I can accept losing to Japan, but the ease with which they scored is unacceptable. It’s enough to make me want to jump into the Huangpu River.”

Chinese state media outlets were largely muted in their response, but social media platforms were filled with criticism, with many calling for the team to be rebuilt from scratch.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, a known football enthusiast, has invested heavily in supporting the national team. However, journalist and football critic Zhang Feng noted, “Football requires skills, physical and tactical training, and this cannot be achieved through politics.”

The loss has sparked a national debate about the state of Chinese football, with many calling for drastic reforms to address the team’s poor performance.