As the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers heat up, China’s defender Jiang Guangtai has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure a crucial victory against Australia. The match is set to take place on Thursday at the iconic Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia.
“It was a long journey, but we have a day to recover. We all have a clear goal, and we must focus on the game,” Jiang stated on Monday. Despite suffering an injury during Shanghai Port’s 3-0 loss to Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League Elite last week, Jiang has confirmed his readiness for the upcoming match. “I’ve had time to recover after the match. Physically, I feel fine now,” he reassured fans and teammates alike.
China finds itself in a challenging Group C alongside Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia. After facing defeats in their first two games—7-0 against Japan and 2-1 to Saudi Arabia—they currently sit at the bottom of the group. The top two teams from each group will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will continue to battle in the subsequent rounds.
Australia, positioned fifth in the group, has also faced setbacks with a 1-0 loss to Bahrain and a goalless draw with Indonesia. The upcoming match is pivotal for both teams as they strive to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
“We have a job to do,” Jiang emphasized. “We need to win.” His determination reflects the resolve of the Chinese squad as they aim to overturn their fortunes in the qualifiers.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
