Chinese player Li Zhenquan (No.20) runs with the ball against an Iraqi player during the U23 Asian Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2026. Photo: VCG

The Chinese national under-23 football team opened its AFC U23 Asian Cup campaign with a scoreless draw against Iraq in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday.

China suffered an early setback in the eighth minute of the first half when Bao Shimeng was forced off due to injury. 

Despite being outmatched in possession, China created more chances in the first half, registering six shots compared with Iraq's four. 

In the 21st minute, Wang Yudong sent in a cross from the left, but Wang Bohao's late run to the far post ended with a header drifting wide. Three minutes later, Li Zhenquan pulled the ball back from the left side of the penalty area. 

After the resume of the match, China continued to look for openings but was not successful. It was goalkeeper Li Hao who made two crucial saves to help China withstand sustained pressure from the Iraqi side in the final minutes of the game.

The Chinese team, led by head coach Antonio Puche from Spain, entered the tournament with cautious optimism as the team seeks to break its historical pattern of early exits. 

Since the competition's inception in 2014, China's U23 team has participated in five of the previous six editions, but never advanced past the group stage, finishing 15 matches with just two wins and 13 losses. The only victories came against Oman in 2018 and the United Arab Emirates in 2024. 

This year's squad, composed of players born in 2003, is widely regarded as one of the most competitive Chinese U23 teams. 

Key players such as forwards Wang Yudong and Behram Abduweli as well as defender Hu Hetao have already established themselves in the top tier of Chinese professional football and earned senior national team call-ups, boosting expectations for a stronger showing. 

Beyond the U23 team's immediate goal of progressing out of the group stage, the tournament represents a vital developmental step for China's young players. 

Around 10 players of this U23 squad have already been involved in training as part of the senior national team's talent pool, and several could be integrated into senior team head coach Shao Jiayi's squad during the March international break following the U23 tournament. 

For Chinese football, which has struggled to qualify for World Cups and major tournaments in recent years, strong performances at youth levels are seen as critical confidence boosters and benchmarks of long-term growth.

The Chinese U23 team will on Sunday go on to take on Australia, who defeated Thailand 2-1 earlier on Thursday.