Chinese keeper Li Hao receives flowers from the fans on arrivial at the Beijing Daxing International Airport on January 26, 2026. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

The Chinese national under-23 football team received a hero's welcome at the Beijing Daxing International Airport on Monday, following a historic run to the final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup - the team's best performance ever in the tournament.

China had not conceded a single goal before the final, including a 3-0 semifinal win over Vietnam - marking the first time the team had reached this stage in history.

Keeper Li Hao, who made his name through his clean-sheet performances from the group and knockout stages between the sticks, shrugged off the defeat in the finals as an "honorable" one.

"We beat many strong opponents to finish second, but a loss in the final is still a loss," he told reporters at the airport. "There's no such thing as an 'honorable defeat.' We'll review it back home."

"Personally, I did everything I could within my ability. Seeing so many fans come to the airport to welcome us back means a lot, and I'm very grateful for their support."

"We'll take what we learned from the final, and next time there's a final we'll strive to bring it home," Li vowed. "We still need to work hard, and winning a championship in the future, that will truly be the brightest moment."

When asked if reaching the final would motivate the team to push even harder in the future, Li didn't hesitate to answer.

"Since we've already made it this far, next time we'll definitely aim even higher. We'll give it our best," he told the Global Times.

Li was among the nominees for the best goalkeeper award at the tournament for his clean sheets before the final. Though ultimately he missed out on the award, he was modest.

"Individual awards aren't very important to me," he said. "I don't really focus on it. What matters more to me is that we didn't win the championship."

On the remarkable scene of fans greeting the team at the airport, Li admitted he hadn't expected so many supporters. "I didn't think there would be that many fans," he said.

Li is currently with Chinese Super League (CSL) club Qingdao West Coast, which finished ninth in the 16-team last season. Rumors have it that several CSL title contenders have shown interest in signing him before the 2026 season starts.

Chinese forward Baihelamu Abuduwaili greets the fans. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Even though suffering a 4-0 defeat to Japan in the final match, the Chinese U23 national team head coach Antonio Puche has said he was "incredibly proud" of the players and praised the team for their breakthrough achievement and resilience.

Defender Hu Hetao said that seeing the large crowd of fans waiting to greet the team upon their return left him visibly moved.

"I felt very happy and very grateful," he said. "As soon as we came out of the airport and saw so many fans waiting for us at the entrance, all the fatigue from the long flight just disappeared."

"Of course, we have some regrets, but we should turn that regret into motivation. Everyone gave a lot, really everything we had, but because the result wasn't what we hoped for, there's inevitably some disappointment.

"We hope that in future competitions we can convert that feeling into fuel to push toward even higher goals."

Hu is currently with CSL club Chengdu Rongcheng, a title contending team last season. His quality performance in the league had already earned him a place in the senior national team in 2025.

Defender Tan Xiao, who scored two goals in the tournament including a match-deciding shot against Australia, said he will use the experience of competing against Asia's elite teams as an impetus.

"Competing against more high-level players has been a valuable experience, and I hope to carry the same intensity and physical condition we showed at the Asian Cup back into the domestic league," Tan told the Global Times.

"Scoring a goal at the tournament gives me a big confidence boost," forward Xiang Yuwang, who scored a goal against Vietnam in the semifinals, told the Global Times. "Playing at this tournament has improved me a lot in terms of handling extreme pressure."

Xiang led his club Chongqing Tonglianglong to the top-flight CSL last season by scoring 18 goals in China League One last season.

The welcoming atmosphere from the fans even excited several onlookers.

"I did not expect to see such an exhilarating moment for Chinese football," a traveler surnamed Dong told the Global Times. "I've been to some big events, but this atmosphere concerning Chinese football makes me very excited and my heart beat quick."

Cui Yongwang, an avid football fan, said that the happiness the national team's performance has brought is paramount.

"The joy brought by the U23 team to me is the most exciting thing in football in recent years," Cui said. "Even though I am also following a European football club, the national team is always my first home team."

The Chinese team, who were eliminated at the group stage during their previous five appearances at the U23 Asian Cup, were seeded at the lowest level in the 16-team competition and so went into the final as a dark horse.

Despite the final defeat, the Chinese team's run in the tournament has injected much-needed confidence and hope into Chinese football at a time when the sport in China has been at a low ebb after years of underachieving runs at international competitions.

The U23 team players are expected to regroup in March, as they will start preparations for the Asian Games later this year.