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Can China become the 'second Cape Verde' in the 2030 World Cup?

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • FIFA is considering expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, increasing the number of matches and potentially extending the tournament duration.
  • Despite FIFA's push for expansion, driven partly by the lucrative Chinese market, China's national football team has struggled to qualify for the World Cup since 2002.
  • Past government initiatives to boost Chinese football have faltered due to short-term focus, financial instability in the sports industry, and widespread issues like match-fixing and corruption.

FIFA's potential expansion of the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, a move that would increase the number of matches from 104 to 128, is drawing mixed reactions. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees opportunities for increased revenue and engagement, critics like Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz and AFC President Sheikh Salman express concerns about devaluing the tournament and causing logistical chaos.

The expansion is seen by some as a strategic move to tap into the Chinese market, with its 1.4 billion population offering significant potential for broadcasting rights and marketing revenue. However, China's own national football team has consistently failed to qualify for the World Cup since their sole appearance in 2002, even with the expanded Asian qualification slots.

We will discuss expanding the number of participating teams to 64 from the 2030 tournament.

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA President Gianni Infantino's statement on potential World Cup expansion.

China's ambition to become a football powerhouse by 2050, a goal championed by President Xi Jinping, has been hampered by a series of missteps. The "football revolution" policy, heavily reliant on real estate companies, focused on short-term gains, massive investments in clubs, and acquiring foreign stars and coaches. This approach prioritized corporate promotion and local government relations over sustainable development.

Expanding the number of participating teams will only cause confusion.

— Sheikh SalmanAFC President Sheikh Salman's criticism of the proposed expansion.

The industry's collapse was accelerated by regulatory crackdowns on excessive spending, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a downturn in the real estate market, leading to the dissolution or suspension of over 40 professional clubs between 2020 and 2022. Furthermore, widespread match-fixing, illegal gambling, and bribery plagued the sport from youth levels to the professional leagues, resulting in severe sanctions for numerous football figures.

With these systemic issues, including a weak youth development system, it remains uncertain whether China will benefit from FIFA's expansion to secure a place in future World Cups. Meanwhile, discussions continue about other tournament elements like hydration breaks and halftime shows, with FIFA yet to confirm their continuation despite some criticism regarding potential impacts on player safety and performance.

The expansion of the 48-team finals has devalued the value of qualifying for the finals.

— Carlos QueirozGhana national team coach Carlos Queiroz's view on the increased number of World Cup participants.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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