China Aims to Bounce Back Against Saudi Arabia in World Cup Qualifier

China’s national football team is set to host Saudi Arabia in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifier on Tuesday in Dalian, Liaoning Province. After suffering a heavy 7-0 defeat to Japan last week, head coach Branko Ivankovic is determined to see his team rebound on home soil.

“After four days, all our players have recovered physically and mentally from the loss,” Ivankovic stated during a press conference on Monday. “We have to bottom out and restore our form as soon as possible. This group is very difficult, and we need to try our best to get better results tomorrow.”

Saudi Arabia, a traditional powerhouse in Asian football, holds a strong record against China. The last victory for China over Saudi Arabia came in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup group stage in Australia. Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Ivankovic praised the opponents and their coach.

“Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup multiple times. At the 2022 World Cup, they defeated Argentina in their group match,” Ivankovic noted. “Their head coach, Roberto Mancini, led Italy to win Euro 2020. He is a coach of champions. We need to have good performances on both ends, and a better defense is fundamental.”

Both teams are eager for a win, with Saudi Arabia having been held to a 1-1 draw by Indonesia in their opening group match. The match in Dalian is expected to be a tough encounter as both sides seek to improve their standings in the group.

Elsewhere in Group C, Bahrain will face Japan, and Australia will take on Indonesia. Bahrain surprised many by defeating Australia 1-0 in their first game and currently sit second in the group behind Japan due to goal difference.

Football fans around the world will be watching closely as the Asian qualifiers continue to unfold, with each match bringing teams one step closer to the prestigious 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top