On October 8, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced a heavy news that the Chinese women's football team will have its third assembly this year, which is scheduled to take place from October 10 to 30 in Yongchuan. The buildup is not only an opportunity for the team to prepare for the Yongchuan Championship, but also the first official match appearance for Coach Milicic after taking over. The lineup will also feature Uzbekistan and Vietnam women's soccer teams, which will undoubtedly be an exciting matchup.
Coach Milicic has selected 26 players this time, with some adjustments compared to the second phase. Zhang Linyan's absence made Yao Wei, Wu Haiyan and Zhao Yuxin of Wuhan Women's Football Team become the main players of the national team. Among them, Zhao Yuxin returned to the coach's vision with her outstanding performance in the league, while Yao Wei and Wu Haiyan are the old faces of the national team. In addition, Guangdong Province's women's soccer team also contributed three players, but the number of selections decreased compared to the previous period.
Women's Super League Golden Boot Yuan Cong, national team regular Dou Jiaxing, Tang Jiali, Chen Qiaozhu and other powerhouse players are listed, while Wang Shuang, Li Mengwen, Yang Lina, Wu Chengshu, Wang Yanwen, Huo Yuexin, Wang Siqian and other young talents playing in the Euroleague are also highly anticipated.
Coach Milicic has led the team to a draw and a loss since he took over. In this Yongchuan Championship, he will take the opportunity to test the players' strength and sharpen the lineup. It is worth mentioning that the coaching team has also ushered in new faces, with former international players Li Dongna and Ren Guixin joining the team, highlighting the CFA's efforts to cultivate young coaching talent.
The Yongchuan Championship is not only an important part of the team's preparation, but also a platform for the Chinese women's soccer team to show their strength and accumulate confidence. It is understood that Uzbekistan and Vietnam women's soccer teams will be invited to participate in the tournament, while the Chinese women's soccer team's goal is to build up confidence with victories rather than test the overall strength.
It is worth mentioning that Zhang Linyan will miss the training after she suffered an unfortunate injury while representing Wuhan Women's Football Team in the AFC Champions League. For Coach Milicic, it will be a big challenge to fill the vacancy on the side.
Meanwhile, the U20 National Youth will also begin training with former South Korean coach and England's Colin Bell as the new coach. The National Youth's training will begin on the 12th and end on the 20th, aiming to be fully prepared for the 2026 U20 Women's Asian Cup and possibly the U20 Women's World Cup.