Chinese women's football team players practice during a training session under the watch of head coach Ante Milicic (center) in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, on January 6, 2026. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

The Chinese women's national football team has kicked off its first training camp of 2026 in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, ramping up preparations for the Women's Asian Cup to be held in Australia in March.

The team is training at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base from January 4 to 22 as the first part of their buildup toward the upcoming tournament. 

The Chinese team's head coach Ante Milicic of Australia made clear that the team's objective is firmly set on reaching the final of the Asian Cup, but cautioned against underestimating the competition.

"In terms of targets, it's clear. It's the Asian Cup. This is our region, and this is where we are expected to do well," he said. 

"We will do everything we can to make this team better. Of course, we want to reach the final, but I don't want to put too much pressure on the group, and we can't disrespect our opponents," said the coach.

That ambition, however, comes in the wake of a difficult overseas tour. The Chinese women's national football team, dubbed the "Steel Roses," suffered two consecutive defeats in November and December in the UK, including an embarrassing 8-0 defeat to England, which triggered mounting calls from fans to dismiss Milicic. 

For Milicic, those lessons have now been absorbed, and the focus has shifted to applying them in Asia.

"Obviously there was disappointment with the result, but the most important thing is that we learned from that experience and grew from it," he told the Global Times. 

"After going through those games, we come back stronger. Right now, we are not thinking about European opposition. We are purely focused on Asia, and I'm confident that after this preparation, we will be able to put in strong performances."

He added that exposure to high-level competition remains important, particularly for younger players.

"Younger players can learn a lot from the intensity in Europe. These lessons are painful, but I am 100 percent sure this experience is making us stronger," Milicic said.

Off the pitch, the Chinese Football Association has also moved to strengthen the team's preparations. It has named former under-17 national team coach Wang Hongliang and goalkeeping coach Ou Chuliang to assist the preparations of the women's team. 

"It's important to have some local coaches in addition, and they bring some fresh eyes to training and the way we work," Milicic said. 

"The most important thing is that this relationship goes both ways. I can learn from them, and they can learn from me. It's a beneficial working relationship for the players."

For the coaching staff, the camp is not only about fitness, but also about understanding how players function in a collective environment.

"What's important for me and the staff is that we know what the international environment is," Milicic said. 

"To assess them in the grandstand watching club games and to come directly into training on the field are completely different things. We can see how they are tactically and physically related to other players in the team."

The Chinese team is grouped with North Korea, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh in Group B. The top two teams in the group will qualify directly for the knockout stage. 

The stakes of the Asian Cup are high this year, as the top six finishers in the tournament will qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup automatically.

The Chinese team's second phase of preparations for the Asian Cup, scheduled for late January or February, is expected to include international friendlies, Milicic said. 

"If we want to get to the final, we have to defeat good teams," Milicic said. "But first, we need to focus on ourselves."

Beyond the coaching staff, the players themselves are also navigating a period of transition.

Team captain Wu Haiyan said maintaining composure and belief will be crucial as the team navigates a challenging period.

"We need to stay calm, believe in ourselves and believe in the team," Wu said, noting that the upcoming Asian Cup will be the final one of her professional career. "I hope we can win the championship."

Reflecting on the previous defeat, Wu said the experience helped the team better understand its strengths and weaknesses.

"After the last loss, we clearly saw where the gap is between us and our opponents, and we also saw our own strengths and weaknesses," she said. "With two months left before the Asian Cup, we now know exactly what we need to improve and where we need to make progress."

Wu acknowledged that the team is grappling with a host of difficulties, but voiced strong confidence in their ability to pull through.

"For me, it's one less match every time I play," she said emotionally. "The team is going through a tough period right now, but I believe we can get through it. As senior players, we hope our experience can help the team even more."

Young player Wang Aifang, 20, said the expanded squad has brought new energy and healthy competition to the camp.

"It feels like new blood coming into the national team, and that pushes all of us to improve," Wang said. "Everyone wants to make the Asian Cup squad, so the intensity in training is definitely higher."

She said that she hopes to help younger teammates integrate quickly, just as senior players once helped her.

"When I first joined, the elder players guided me and supported me," Wang said. "Now I hope I can help younger players adapt more quickly."