HOT: China considers withdrawing from FIFA tournament, Vietnam's national team gets a clear path to victory

Should China withdraw from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, Vietnam's national team would see a notable boost in its championship prospects.

News about the possibility of the Chinese national team pulling out of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup has become a hot topic among the country's media. Sohu recently raised the question: "Will the Chinese national team take part in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup?" and suggested that the team's future remains uncertain, even though the CFA had previously agreed to participate.

According to various sources, the reason behind the Chinese Football Association (CFA) reconsidering its decision stems from disagreements with FIFA over the tournament's commercial terms. Although no official announcement has been made, Chinese media believe that a withdrawal by the national team is entirely possible in the near future.

Apart from commercial factors, professional considerations are also seen as a key reason. In early 2027, China will compete in the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, placed in a group with Iran, Syria, and Kyrgyzstan. These are all opponents with West Asian or Central Asian football styles, which differ significantly from Southeast Asian teams.

Therefore, many voices in China argue that participating in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup would offer little value in terms of team preparation. Notably, the Chinese team has already scheduled friendly matches against Singapore on June 5 and Thailand on June 9 during the FIFA Days. Meeting Southeast Asian representatives again just a few months later is considered less than ideal for their Asian Cup preparations.

Before rumors of China's possible withdrawal emerged, The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is expected to bring together all Southeast Asian teams along with three guest teams: China, Hong Kong (China), and India. The participation of these guest teams is anticipated to enhance both the professional quality and the appeal of the tournament.

If China officially withdraws, the tournament's top-seeded group will be reduced to seven teams: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and India. Currently, the CFA has yet to make a final decision, while Chinese media suggest that the federation's hesitation partly reflects the complex calculations and considerations ahead of the tournament.