Chinese men's national football team players take part in a training session in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, on September 15, 2026. The team will play an international invitational tournament from September 24 to October 6 in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Photo: VCG

Chinese Super League clubs began their new Asian campaign on Tuesday with hopes of reversing their recent struggles in continental competition, with reigning Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port defeating Ratchaburi FC of Thailand on the away pitch and Chinese FA Cup holders Beijing Guoan beating South Korea's Pohang Steelers 3-1.

Indoor fitness competition Hyrox has vowed to ban anyone who threatens or encourages harm against athletes after a controversial incident at its Beijing event triggered a heated debate over sportsmanship, hygiene and the responsibilities of both competitors and organizers.

Chinese wingsuit flyer Zhang Shupeng claimed his first world championship title in the precision target event at the 12th Wingsuit Flying World Championship on Saturday in Zhangjiajie, Central China's Hunan Province.

Chinese motorcycle entrepreneur Zhang Xue is setting his sights beyond race victories, saying he hopes to cultivate a Chinese world champion within five to 10 years.

China's Zheng Qinwen saw her remarkable run at the 2026 US Open ended in the women's singles quarterfinals on Thursday as she lost 1-2 to second seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, but her resurgent form and never-say-die spirit have won wide praise.

China's national football team has turned to a younger generation as the Asian Games reshapes the senior team, with 17-year-old high school student Zhao Songyuan among four players born after 2007 to receive their first call-ups.

China will face Puerto Rico on Wednesday for a place in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup quarterfinals after a commanding 71-51 victory over Italy secured second place in Group D on Monday.

China's Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback from 0-5 down in the opening set to beat eighth seed and former champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday and reach the US Open quarter-finals for the third time.

China's Zheng Qinwen staged another thrilling comeback from 5-0 down to beat eighth seed Iga Swiatek of Poland 7-5, 6-3 to secure a quarterfinal berth in the women's singles of US Open on Monday. In Saturday's previous round, Zheng had bounced back from 5-0 down in the deciding set to eliminate home player Madison Keys.

The 2026 China Masters concluded in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province on Sunday with the hosts China claiming only one title on home soil, while India and Japan took the men's and women's doubles crowns respectively and Hong Kong players made history with an all-Hong Kong men's singles final.

China's tennis star Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback from 5-0 down in the deciding set to defeat home favorite Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 on Saturday and reach the US Open women's singles round of 16.

Looking forward to the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, Olympic champions Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang told the Global Times during an event in Beijing on Wednesday that they plan to leverage the tournament as an important test on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The football squads for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games were officially unveiled on Tuesday, with Wu X I, Zhang Yuning and Zhu Chenjie named as the three overage players in China's 23-player U23 men's squad. For the women's team, star midfielder Wang Shuang will lead a lineup that includes veteran Zhang Rui and forward Shao Ziqin.

Real Madrid sparked criticism from Chinese fans after using “Tibet” alongside Nepal in a social media post for a pre-match tribute, which many viewed as an inappropriate reference to China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

An 82-year-old man can fly? Chinese runner Ding Ming has found himself at the center of admiration after sprinting to a world title and setting a new Asian record at an international tournament recently.

China's Wang Xinyu and Wu Yibing kicked off their 2026 US Open campaign with straight-set victories on Sunday in New York.

The recent online reports claiming that the Chinese Football Association (CFA) would not renew the contract of Antonio Puche, head coach of the Chinese U-23 national team and the men's Asian Games team, were false, the Chinese football governing body said in a Weibo (China's X-like social media platform) statement on Sunday.

China's Yuan Qingcheng, Russia's Miroslav Kiselev and Mexico's Mia Cueva Lobato each claimed three gold medals as the 2026 World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships concluded here on Friday.

Inside the Shilong Cave in Qingzhen, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, visitors of all ages in outdoor gear glide slowly forward on paddleboards. The cave grows quieter as they move deeper inside, with their headlamps illuminating only a few meters ahead.

Shanghai's sports authorities said Wednesday night that it will maintain communication with Olympic champion Liu Xiang and properly handle his post-retirement arrangements, after the former Olympic hurdling champion publicly sought advice over whether to take a coaching job or opt for a one-time settlement.

The football academy once affiliated to defunct Evergrande Group has been taken over by Guangzhou Sport University (GSU) and it will be transformed into a campus of the university after a court-approved restructuring plan brought in 600 million yuan ($83.5 million) in investment.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) said on Sunday that it found no evidence to support the claims that the Korea Football Association (KFA) provided "improper hospitality" to Chinese football officials in a 2012 visit after conducting an internal investigation.

As international tennis tournaments multiply across China this autumn, organizers are increasingly looking beyond the court, seeking to turn a trip to a tournament into a broader travel experience.

Chinese figure skaters Wang Chenling (left) and Chen Yongzheng take part in pair skating practice ahead of the Xi'an leg of the 2026 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province on August 19, 2026. The competition runs from Thursday to Saturday. Photo: VCG

French rider Valentin Debise says ZXMOTO's ability to develop and modify its racing bike at remarkable speed has been a key factor behind the Chinese manufacturer's breakthrough season in the FIM Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP).

China's U17 men's national team and Arsenal U17 were declared joint champions of the 2026 Shanghai Future Star Cup after Sunday's final was forced to cancel due to the approaching Typhoon Dolphin, while Chinese forward Zhao Songyuan was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

As this year's Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) enters the knockout stage after three days of competition in Hangzhou of East China's Zhejiang Province, attention beyond the race for the championship has also risen.

Six of the world's top 10 men's singles tennis players have confirmed their participation in this year's China Open, according to the organizers.

China has launched open recruitment for the next head coach of its national short track speed skating team on Wednesday, a move aimed at rebuilding one of the country's traditional Winter Olympic powerhouses after a disappointing campaign at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen's disappointing first-round exit at the WTA Washington Open has triggered intense discussion among Chinese tennis fans, with criticism over her recurring inconsistency balanced by widespread calls for patience on Wednesday as the former world No.4 continues her comeback from injury.

Chinese basketball club the Guangzhou Loong Lions has selected Sung Hsin-hao of Chinese Taipei with the No.1 overall pick during the 2026 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Draft on Tuesday, making the guard from Chengchi University the first player chosen in this year's draft.

As snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan competed at the Shanghai Masters against defending champion Kyren Wilson on Tuesday, the veteran said China's new generation of snooker stars has become one of the sport's dominant forces.

China has set its sights on deepening international exchanges and cooperation in sports while increasing its influence in global sports governance, according to a blueprint issued by the General Administration of Sport (GAS) on Wednesday.

China's men's under-23 football team will have little margin for error at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after being drawn in arguably the tournament's toughest group, setting up clashes with the United Arab Emirates, Iran and North Korea in the opening stage.

China's women's national volleyball team heads into the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals with a young and relatively inexperienced roster, as they gear up to take on the top-seeded US in Wednesday's quarterfinal clash in Macao, China.

China's table tennis veterans Ma Long and Xu Xin's reunion at the 2026 Chinese National Table Tennis Championships was supposed to be a nostalgic moment. Instead, the two veterans reminded everyone why they remain one of the greatest doubles pairings in Chinese table tennis history.

Spain captain Rodri won the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player on Sunday.

France striker Kylian Mbappe made World Cup history on Sunday by becoming the first player to finish as the tournament's leading scorer on multiple occasions, securing his second Golden Boots after Lionel Messi failed to find the net in Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.

Substitute Ferran Torres scored in extra time as Spain beat 10-man Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup final on Sunday.

Substitute Ferran Torres scored in extra time as Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup final on Sunday.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Saturday reiterated that former China internationals Shen Si and Qi Hong remain permanently banned from engaging in any football-related activities, reigniting the debate over how the association should deal with those who have seriously damaged the integrity of the sport in China.

For Chinese football fans watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from afar, the tournament offered more than a discussion about who lifted the winners' trophy. It has raised a more fundamental question: What separates countries that continue to improve from those that remain trapped in cycles of disappointment?

Amid vast grasslands in midsummer, galloping horses, fierce bokh (Mongolian wrestling) contests and aircraft soaring overhead set the scene for the opening of the 36th Naadam Festival in the Xilin Gol League, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Saturday.

England beat France 6-4 to claim the World Cup third place on Saturday, its best finish at the tournament since lifting the trophy in 1966 as they combined to score the most goals in a World Cup game since 1982.

France's Kylian Mbappe broke Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup scoring record of 21 in Saturday's third-place play-off, though Les Bleus lost 6-4 to England.

Chinese entertainment company Time Fengjun Entertainment has come under scrutiny on social media after internet users accused its logo of bearing a strong resemblance to the branding of motorsport racing Formula One (F1), prompting online calls for the motorsport governing body to investigate the matter.

Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro in each half gave Spain a 2-0 victory over France in Tuesday's World Cup semifinal, sending the team to the final for the first time since its 2010 triumph.

Although the FIFA World Cup has reached the semifinals, discussions over the continued absence of the world's two most populous countries have not subsided.

The Argentina national football team has pledged to donate a batch of team merchandise, including water bottles, towels, clothing and backpacks, to help residents affected by the floods in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, saying it hopes to "give back" to the support it has received from Chinese fans during the FIFA World Cup.

The Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) sent a congratulatory letter via its WeChat account to Guo Hanyu on Sunday night, celebrating the Chinese player winning her first Grand Slam doubles title at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed on Sunday that the world football governing body will formally explore the possibility of expanding the men's World Cup from 48 to 64 teams after the conclusion of the ongoing 2026 tournament.

Athletes holding a Russian passport are permitted to participate in International Table Tennis Federation and para table tennis events starting from July 28, 2026, the ITTF announced on Monday.

"Too heartbreaking for Haaland" is one of several hashtags related to Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland now trending across Chinese social media after England's 2-1 comeback knocked Norway out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.

Former Beijing Guoan player Manuel Evaristo, better known as Manu, has died in a car accident in Portugal at the age of 43, multiple Portuguese media outlets reported.

Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time as Argentina advanced to the World Cup semifinals on Saturday with a 3-1 win over 10-man Switzerland.

England booked its place in the World Cup semifinals on Saturday, coming from behind to edge Norway 2-1 thanks to a brace from Jude Bellingham.

The CBA emphasized its "zero-tolerance" policy toward any form of doping violation.

Hassan Whiteside, a US player for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), has been found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation following an in-competition test conducted in May, according to an announcement by the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) on Friday.

When football fans recall a World Cup, they often remember the goals, the celebrations and the voices that guided them through those moments.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Tuesday to temporarily restore the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), which had been suspended since October 2023.

Switzerland beats Colombia to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Argentina beats Egypt 3-2 to reach World Cup quarterfinals

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee that had been in effect since October 2023.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Tuesday dismissed online claims that it had turned down an invitation from the Cape Verde Football Federation (FCF) for an international friendly, saying no formal match proposal has been received from the latter.

While China's men's national basketball team has achieved its minimum target of reaching the second round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the next stage will provide stern challenges as they are set to face three West Asian opponents.

Belgium booked a place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over the United States on Monday, eliminating the co-hosts in Seattle in a match that was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun's eligibility.

Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and set up another goal as Belgium advanced to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Monday with a 4-1 win over the United States.

Substitute Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in a tense Iberian derby on Monday to reach the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's bid to lift football's biggest trophy.

Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland delivered a historic performance on Monday as Norway defeated five-time world champions Brazil to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the country's history. The 25-year-old Manchester City striker, who scored seven goals in four matches, played a pivotal role in Norway's stunning run. After the match, Haaland turned to Chinese social media, posting five updates in Chinese that quickly went viral on platforms including Weibo and Douyin.

China booked its place in the second round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers with a commanding 92-74 victory over Chinese Taipei on Monday, keeping its World Cup hopes alive after a must-win Group B clash.

Football fans have spent decades learning one of the sport's simplest rules: Receive a straight red card, miss the next game. Apparently, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is now an exception.

Erling Haaland scored twice in late second half as Norway stunned five-time champion Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in the MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

China's men's basketball team's 92-73 home defeat to Japan on Friday has left the team with little time to dwell on what went wrong. Monday's Group B meeting against Chinese Taipei now offers no room for error, with victory essential if China is to keep its World Cup qualification hopes alive.

China's THU Huoshen Team from Tsinghua University has successfully defended its Humanoid League crown at the world's largest AI robotics competition, RoboCup 2026, which concluded in Incheon, South Korea, on Sunday.

Mbappe penalty sends France past Paraguay 1-0 to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot as France defeated Paraguay 1-0 to book its place in the quarterfinals at FIFA World Cup here on Saturday.

Morocco beat Canada 3-0 in Houston Stadium on Saturday to become the first team at the World Cup to progress to the quarterfinals.

Colombia beats Ghana 1-0 to reach World Cup last 16

Cabo Verde manager Bubista said he was proud of his players after they pushed defending champion Argentina to extra time in a dramatic 3-2 World Cup round of 32 defeat on Friday.

Argentina beats Cabo Verde 3-2 after extra time to reach World Cup last 16

China suffered a humiliating 92-73 home defeat to Japan in a FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier on Friday in Shenyang, leaving the home side's hopes of reaching the next round hanging by a thread.

Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye saw Switzerland advance to the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Algeria on Thursday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal in the World Cup knockout stage and substitute Goncalo Ramos's late winner helped Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic round of 32 fixture here on Thursday.

Portugal beats Croatia 2-1 to reach World Cup last 16

​Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain progressed to the World Cup round of 16 on Thursday with a 3-0 win over Austria.

The United States advanced to the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Belgium beats Senegal 3-2 after extra time to reach World Cup last 16

Yang Shuyu, China's women's national basketball team captain, has joined the Sydney Flames for the 2026-27 Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) season, according to a statement released by the club on Tuesday.

France beats Sweden 3-0 to reach last 16 at FIFA World Cup

China's Wang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai advanced to the second round at Wimbledon on Monday, while Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen suffered another opening-round exit and Wu Yibing bowed out after a spirited challenge against 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.

It is rare for a libero to score in a volleyball match. Yet China's Wang Mengjie did it twice during the 2026 Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) stop in Turkey.

Morocco advanced to the World Cup round of 16 on Monday by beating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Japan's dramatic 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Monday drew reflecting and respects from many Chinese football fans, with social media users praising the Japanese team for pushing the five-time world champions to the brink before bowing out in stoppage time.

Paraguay ended Germany's unbeaten run in FIFA World Cup penalty shootouts on Monday, beating the four-time champion 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the last 16.

Gabriel Martinelli scored deep in stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over Japan in a World Cup round-of-32 tie on Monday, setting up a last-16 meeting with either Cote d'Ivoire or Norway.

With the FIFA World Cup still underway, over in China the Chinese Super League (CSL) quietly resumed its domestic schedule.

World Cup co-host Canada beat South Africa 1-0 here on Sunday, advancing to the round of 16 for the first time ever.

Chinese football fans have been reacting actively on social media after a dramatic day at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which saw Asian football powerhouses Iran and South Korea being eliminated, leaving only two Asian Football Confederation (AFC) teams - Japan and Australia - progressing beyond the group stage.

South Korea's early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup triggered a wave of reactions across Chinese social media on Sunday, with some users teasing their East Asian rival underachieving, while some others expressed sympathy for one of Asia's established football powers.