China has just revealed their 32-player roster for the pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Australia. This squad features five exciting debutants, including three promising U23 defenders and two dynamic U20 strikers, signaling a fresh wave of talent ready to make their mark on the international stage.
The defensive lineup welcomes Liu Haofan, Wang Shiqin, and Xu Bin, all aged 23 or under, who are stepping up to earn their first senior call-ups. On the offensive side, the young forwards Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu, born in 2006, are set to showcase their skills and bring new energy to the team's attack.
However, fans will miss out on key players as 2024 Chinese Men's Footballer of the Year Wu Lei and starting center-back Zhu Chenjie are both sidelined due to injuries. In their absence, Yunnan Yukun's naturalized striker Hou Yongyong is ready to make his international debut, aiming to bolster China's offensive strategies.
The Dragons will take on Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on March 20 before heading back to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, to host Australia on March 25. With four group stage matches remaining, China currently sits at the bottom of Group C with six points, tied with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Bahrain, and just one point behind second-placed Australia. Meanwhile, Japan leads the group with an impressive 16 points.
As the team gears up for these critical matches, the new squad is eager to climb the standings and secure a strong position in the World Cup qualifiers. Stay tuned for more updates and support your team as they strive for glory!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
