Ma Xiaoxu joins the coaching staff, multiple newcomers selected — China women's football accelerates transition between generations

Reporter Wang Wei reports Aiming to fully prepare for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Chinese women's football team will conduct its fourth training camp of 2026 in Wuhan from May 18 to June 8, featuring warm-up matches against the Russian women's side. Australian head coach Milicic is staying on, while former international Ma Xiaoxu joins as assistant coach.

This training camp has called up 26 players, including 11 newcomers who did not participate in this year's Women's Asian Cup. Over half of the squad are post-2000s players, indicating that the Chinese women's team has accelerated its transition between generations.

Appointed in May 2024, Milicic had faced criticism for a "slow renewal" of the squad. His retention stems from two key factors: first, leading the team to the Asian Cup semifinals and securing a Women's World Cup berth early this year; second, his tactical guidance in the Asian Cup group stage that helped China overturn North Korea, earning him extra credit.

With Milicic staying on, the coaching staff has also been infused with fresh blood. Ma Xiaoxu takes on an assistant coach role, while Wang Hongliang, who served as an assistant during the Asian Cup, is no longer in the coaching team. Ma, a former national team star, recently led the U17 women's team to the Asian Cup semifinals and qualification for the U17 World Cup. Her familiarity with young domestic players helps bridge the talent pipeline between youth and senior teams, facilitating the team's generational shift. Meanwhile, Anthony Frost continues as assistant coach, Qu Chuliang and Jordan Franken jointly oversee goalkeeping, and fitness coach Danny Digan remains on board. The combination of foreign and local coaches ensures both tactical continuity and localized improvement.

The 26-player list balances stability and change. Key players from the年初 Asian Cup are all included, with core figures like Wang Shuang, Wu Haiyan, Yao Wei, and Chen Qiaozhu leading the squad. At the same time, rising stars from the Women's Super League and overseas-based players have been added, creating a reasonable mix of experienced veterans, prime-age players, and young talents.

Domestic leagues serve as the main talent pool: Beijing Chengjian women's team contributed six players, with Chen Qiaozhu, Li Qingtong, and Zhang Linyan anchoring the central spine, plus goalkeeper Pan Hongyan, Liu Chen, and midfielder Yu Fan (captain of Beijing, who has excelled in the Women's Super League). Liaoning Shenbei Hefeng sent four players: Wang Aifang and Xie Zongmei return, while Zhou Xinyu and Ye Tong join as newcomers. Wuhan Chegu Jiangda also has six players: Wang Shuang, Yao Wei, and Wu Haiyan lead, with rising stars Jiang Chenjing, Deng Mengye, and Yan Qi emerging. Other clubs like Shanghai Shengli, Jiangsu Nanjing, Sichuan, and Changchun also contributed players. Most newcomers have stood out in the Women's Super League — for example, Jiang Chenjing, Deng Mengye, and Yan Qi were key players for Wuhan Chegu Jiangda when they won the Women's AFC Champions League last year, and were also part of Hubei's runner-up team in the 14th National Games women's event.

On the overseas front, three returnees were selected: Wurigumula (Montpellier, France), Wang Yanwen (Dijon, France), and Shao Ziqin (Benfica, Portugal). Notably, the goalkeeper position has been completely refreshed, with three young keepers — Pan Hongyan, Liu Chen, and Xiao Zitong — replacing the Asian Cup goalkeeping lineup.

It is worth noting that compared to the年初 Asian Cup squad, this training camp list has 11 new faces. For example, Beijing's 25-year-old captain Yu Fan, Liaoning's 24-year-old forward Zhou Xinyu and 20-year-old defender Ye Tong, Shanghai's 24-year-old goalkeeper Xiao Zitong, Wuhan's 24-year-old defender Deng Mengye, 26-year-old midfielder Yan Qi, and 22-year-old midfielder Jiang Chenjing, as well as Changchun's 22-year-old defender Guo Nan, are all newcomers to the national team. Beijing's U20 national team starting goalkeeper Liu Chen had previously been called up, and along with Jiangsu's Huo Yuexin and Beijing's Pan Hongyan, they have returned to the national team.

Eleven players who participated in this year's Women's Asian Cup — goalkeepers Chen Chen, Zhu Yu, Peng Shimeng; defenders Lyu Yatong, Li Mengwen, Wang Ying; midfielders Zhang Xin, Tang Jiali, Zhang Rui; and forwards Wu Chengshu, Yuan Cong — are not in this camp roster.

Judging from this list, Milicic has begun a planned structural adjustment of the squad. With about four months until the Asian Games in September and roughly a year until the Women's World Cup, this period is crucial for evaluating personnel and fine-tuning the lineup.

Veterans with rich experience and stable mentality form the bedrock of the team's consistency. However, issues such as declining fitness, increased injuries, and reduced ability to endure high-intensity physical challenges are real. Facing stronger, faster, and more physical European and American opponents at the World Cup, it is urgent to integrate and test young players.

During the Wuhan camp, the Chinese women's team will face Russia in a warm-up on June 3. In addition to this ticketed official match, they plan a closed-door friendly on June 7. The Russian side is known for its physical strength and rapid transitions, making them ideal opponents to test the camp's results and develop younger players.

Balancing the dual tasks of the Asian Games and the World Cup, the Chinese women's team, currently in its generational transition window, has clear core objectives for this Wuhan camp: prepare for the Asian Games, evaluate newcomers, integrate new and old players, and refine tactical systems. They will train through competition, use veterans to guide rookies, and promote rapid fusion via the camp and matches.

Of course, although 11 changes have been made for this camp, it does not mean those not selected have lost their chances. The team will continue to make dynamic adjustments in different training periods to maintain healthy competition within the squad.