China

Asian Cup

Lippi needs miracle to inspire China to Asia Cup glory

China coach Marcello Lippi has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the Asian Cup, but the decorated Italian will need to inspire something special if his ageing side are to be serious contenders.

International Friendly

China mourns death of former women's World Cup star at 43

Football communities in the US and China were on Monday mourning the death of former Chinese international Zhang Ouying who had been fighting cancer. She was 43.

International Friendly

China held by Palestine, adding to Lippi's woe

Marcello Lippi will face fresh scrutiny after his insipid China side were held to a stale 1-1 home draw by 99th-ranked Palestine in a friendly on Tuesday.

Asian Cup

China face India in Shanghai

China and India together account for more than a third of the world's population, but in football terms they are minnows often beaten by countries a fraction of their size.

Football spreading to children across China

China is rolling out football programmes across 10,000 kindergartens in a fresh effort to popularise the beautiful game in the world's most populous country, which is still struggling to produce world-class players.

Belgian raids reminder match fixing could happen anywhere

The anti-fraud operation that shook Belgian football on Wednesday is a reminder that the manipulation of matches, linked to betting or not, spares no country.

Lippi wants China exit

China's veteran Italian head coach Marcello Lippi has confirmed that he will more than likely retire when his contract with the Asian side expires early next year.

China continue to struggle as pressure mounts on Lippi

China is throwing money at President Xi Jinping's ambitions to boast a top-class national football team and one day host a World Cup.

International Friendly

China appoint Hiddink to lead Olympic 2020 charge

Highly respected Dutchman Guus Hiddink was named on Monday as the new coach of China's under-21 football team, tasked with leading the country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Olympic Games

Hiddink set for China Olympics role

Highly respected Dutch coach Guus Hiddink looks poised to take on a leading role in China's aggressive push to finally become a force in international football.

Chinese Super League

Uighur footballer pursues footballing landmark in China amid troubled times for minorities

The scion of a footballing family is primed to become the first Uighur to represent China's national team, amid growing international concern about the fate of the ethnic minority group.

China cracks down on online gambling

China has cracked down on online football gambling during the World Cup, arresting more than 540 suspected of participating in schemes involving more than $1.5 billion, state media said.