Chinese national football team head coach Shao Jiayi attends a news conference in Zhaoqing, South China's Guangdong Province on January 4, 2026. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Chinese men's national football team head coach Shao Jiayi said that his goal lies in not only qualifying for the FIFA World Cup but also leading the team to show its fighting spirit and achieve results that make Chinese people proud.

"Being the head coach of the national team is just an important step toward our dreams and goals," Shao told reporters on Sunday in Zhaoqing, South China's Guangdong Province.  

"But the true objective for me and my team is to lead the national team to play with a fighting spirit and achieve results that will satisfy the Chinese people, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of our country," he said. 

Shao, 45, is a former national team midfielder and one of China's most decorated footballers. He was named head coach of the national team by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in November 2025, following a selection process that considered more than 60 applicants from China and abroad.

Shao started his first training session as head coach on Sunday in Zhaoqing. The team will later travel to Dubai, the UAE, for friendly matches, Shao said.

The Chinese national team currently sits at 93rd in the FIFA world rankings, the 14th in Asia, and has not qualified for a FIFA World Cup since its sole appearance in 2002, where Shao made two appearances in three matches when he was 22. 

"We are very clear about the situation Chinese football is in right now, and the difficulties we face," Shao told the Global Times. 

The Chinese men's national football team prepares for the 2025 U23 Asian Cup in Zhaoqing, South China's Guangdong Province, on December 14, 2025. Photo: VCG

Restoring confidence

"We must be down-to-earth, strengthen the foundations of our national team and work humbly and diligently to contribute to the revival and development of Chinese football." 

When asked about the team's current weaknesses and his football philosophy, Shao focused first on restoring confidence. 

"This is not something that can be achieved with words alone. It requires hard training, high-quality preparation, and step-by-step progress toward our goals," Shao told the Global Times.

He emphasized that while Chinese football has historically lagged behind top international leagues, the knowledge gap is narrowing. 

"There is a gap in ability, but football is a team sport. By relying on the team's strength, we can help the national team improve."

During his playing career, Shao spent nine seasons in the German leagues. Among his backroom staff, his former 1860 Munich head coach Reiner Maurer joins as the assistant coach to the Chinese national team. Maurer was also the assistant coach when Shao took the reins of the Chinese Super League club Qingdao West Coast.

Younger squad

The CFA announced a 26-player roster for the initial camp held on Thursday, which featured a mix of seasoned internationals and newcomers.

Notably absent from Shao's squad are several promising players from China's under-23 set-up, including forward Wang Yudong and defender Hu Hetao, who were omitted not due to a lack of form but because they are currently with the U23 national team preparing for the U23 Asian Cup set to be held in Saudi Arabia later this month.

Before taking charge of the national team, Shao had already worked closely with the previous under-20 national team, the predecessors of the current U23 side, serving as both team leader and assistant coach to coach Antonio Puche. 

That past working relationship is widely seen as facilitating smoother coordination and mutual support between the senior and U23 teams, particularly during recent periods of overlapping preparation and competition in cultivating young Chinese players.

"All the players in this national team list meet current requirements. Many U23 players also meet the standards and are part of the larger sequence. I also tell players that being selected is because of their sustained and stable performance. This is what allows them to enter the squad," he said.

He stressed that new and older players will be integrated based on merit rather than age alone. 

"New and old players' rotating is normal. But we cannot rotate just for the sake of rotation. Age cannot be a rigid standard. Whether young or older, what matters more is performance and contribution in the team," Shao noted.

Shao's emphasis on integrating youth and maintaining standards is reflected in the preparation of China's U23 and U17 teams, which face pivotal continental tournaments this year. 

The U23 team is the country's most closely watched youth squad in 2026, tasked with competing on two fronts: the U23 Asian Cup and the Asian Games.

The U23 Asian Cup, which kicks off on Tuesday, will be the year's first major tournament. China has been drawn into a "group of death," facing Iraq, Australia, and Thailand in the group stage.

Meanwhile, the U17 national team, led by Japanese coach Bin Ukishima, carries the mission of qualifying for the U17 World Cup. 

The squad will compete in the U17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from May 7 to 24. Only the top eight teams in the tournament will earn a ticket to the U17 World Cup in November, underscoring the high stakes for China's youngest talents.

Realistic steps

A pressing question for any national coach is the World Cup. When asked if he is confident that China could qualify the World Cup under his leadership, Shao offered a measured but determined response. 

"Through training and high-quality matches, we advance step by step according to plan. I cannot say we will definitely make it to the World Cup, but it is an unquestionable goal of the team. We will fight to the utmost for it," Shao said.

While 2026 has no major competitions immediately on the horizon, Shao emphasized that every match and training session carries importance. 

"The national team does not have any match that can be ignored. Every match of the national team is very important. Each match concerns fans' expectations and the future trajectory of the national team. There is no reason for carelessness or slacking off," Shao said.