The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has dismissed men's national team head coach Branko Ivankovic following China's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking another setback for the country's football ambitions.
In an official statement released Friday, the CFA confirmed Ivankovic's contract was automatically terminated after China failed to progress to the playoff stage of Asian qualifiers. The Croatian manager's departure comes amid growing scrutiny of China's football development strategies, with the national team last appearing in the World Cup in 2002.
The CFA acknowledged Ivankovic's contributions, stating: "We express gratitude to Mr. Ivankovic and his staff for their dedicated efforts. We wish him success in future endeavors."
Serbian coach Dejan Djurdjevic, who led China's U-20 team to the AFC U-20 Asian Cup quarterfinals earlier this year, will serve as interim manager. His first challenge will be the upcoming EAFF E-1 Football Championship, a regional tournament featuring teams from East Asia.
This leadership change occurs as Chinese football continues its reform efforts, with authorities aiming to improve youth development programs and professional league structures. The national team's performance remains a key indicator of these ongoing initiatives.
