Sleeping giants of world football: India and China on the game's periphery

The giants of world football, China and India, remain on the peripheries of the sport's biggest stage. Both nations have made only a single appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals. China's lone participation occurred in 2002, a tournament where they failed to impress.

During their 2002 campaign, the Chinese team lost all three of their group stage matches. They did not manage to score any goals and conceded nine, ultimately finishing second to last in the tournament standings. Their performance was only bettered by Saudi Arabia, who conceded an even greater number of goals, including a heavy defeat against Germany (0-8).

The article posits that FIFA, under figures like Gianni Infantino, might prefer the inclusion of these Asian powerhouses. It suggests that given the choice, FIFA might opt for the participation of India and China over nations like Jordan or Uzbekistan, despite the latter's potential to generate excitement, as seen with teams like Cape Verde and Curaçao causing a stir in past tournaments.