On October 29, a news story sparked a buzz in the Associated Press, which provided an in-depth analysis of the future direction of Chinese soccer, arguing that the torch that will lead to the renaissance of Chinese soccer will be lit by China's women's soccer team.
Recalling that in February this year, our men's soccer team lost to Vietnam in a heartbreaking performance in the Round of 12, after the game, head coach Li Xiaopeng had to publicly apologize in the face of angry fans and promised the outside world: "The road to the revival of Chinese soccer is long, but every generation will work tirelessly for it."
Nowadays, the heavy responsibility for the revival of Chinese soccer falls on the shoulders of women's soccer. Recently, in the draw for the 2023 Women's International Cup, our women's soccer team was placed in Group D with England and Denmark. However, just 48 hours later, China's State General Administration of Sport, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and the Football Association jointly released the China Women's Football Reform and Development Plan (2022-2035), which aims to enhance the environment for women's football development and strengthen the foundation.
The plan proposes that by 2025, China will create a professional league system with 50 teams and establish 30 youth training centers. If the plan is successfully implemented, by 2035, the country will be capable of hosting the Women's International Cup and aiming to win it, and soccer will become a sport widely played by women across the country.
Next year, the Women's International Cup, jointly organized by Australia and New Zealand, will be a test of the strength of our women's football team. The goal of our women's soccer team is to advance to the quarter-finals, i.e. the top eight. Head Coach Shui Qingxia said, "The opponents in our group are not bad, especially the Danish women's soccer team and the England women's soccer team, it will be a tough match, but we have to give our best."
In 2002, our men's soccer team made its only appearance at the International Cup, but lost all three matches. In contrast, our women's soccer team has had an illustrious history, reaching the final of the International Cup in 1999, losing to the hosts, the United States. In addition, our women's soccer team has won nine Asian championships, seven of which were won between 1986 and 1999.
However, since then, the clanging roses have declined, failing to reach the quarter-finals in the International Cup. 2020 Olympics, China's women's football team only accumulated one point in three matches, and ultimately ranked at the bottom of the group.
Within Asia, Australia joined the AFC in 2006 and Japan won the Women's International Cup in 2011, achievements that have posed a great challenge to our women's soccer team. In February this year, our women's soccer team miraculously turned back South Korea to win 3-2 in the final of the Asian Cup, which is regarded as a sign of our women's soccer team's re-emergence.
"As long as there is faith, it must be the pride of our country." This is how our Football Association has described the team, saying that they are "the pride of our country". At a time when our men's soccer team is in the doldrums, our women's soccer team has become the hope for the next ten years, and they are ready to take on the challenge of scaling international heights with the support of the country.
