The 2026 World Cup Asia qualifiers witnessed a clash between the Chinese men’s team and the Japanese team, with the former suffering a devastating 0-7 loss, sparking strong dissatisfaction and mockery among Chinese fans. Surprisingly, despite the significant interest in this game among the Chinese population, the state-run CCTV did not broadcast the match. Analysts suggest that there might be hidden reasons behind CCTV’s decision not to air the game.
On September 5th, the Chinese football team faced off against Japan in the first round of the Asia qualifiers for the World Cup. In the first half, the Chinese team trailed 0-2, and in the second half, they were completely overwhelmed by Japan’s relentless attacks, conceding another 5 goals, leading to a humiliating defeat. This match saw the Chinese men’s team break several undesirable records, such as the largest defeat to Japan, the most goals conceded in a World Cup qualifier match, and the biggest loss in World Cup qualifying history.
After the match, China’s head coach, Branko Ivanković, acknowledged Japan’s strength as a world-class team, expressing surprise at the number of goals conceded. He described it as one of the most difficult nights as a coach.
Former Chinese national team captain Fan Zhiyi, watching the game live from Shanghai, expressed his frustration, saying, “The opposition scored too easily. If the distance wasn’t so far, I would have jumped into the Huangpu River. We can accept losing to Japan, but allowing the opponent to score so easily is just unacceptable.”
Statistics after the first half already indicated a significant gap in quality between Japan and China. Japan dominated possession with 74% compared to China’s 26%, had more accurate passes (285 to 79), more shots (9 to 1), leading in almost all aspects, while China’s only lead was in offsides and yellow cards.
The discussion surrounding China’s heavy defeat to Japan became a hot topic on social media. Journalist Deng Fei quoted a friend on Weibo, highlighting the fact that the Chinese national team’s participation in open and transparent competitions leaves no room for boasting without actual results.
The sports scene in China is heavily plagued by the temptations of fame and fortune, representing a significant area of systematic corruption within the Chinese Communist Party. Football, being a sport that resonates with nearly all Chinese people, stands as a focal point of corruption.
In November 2022, former Chinese men’s national team coach Li Tie was investigated. In March of this year, Li Tie faced charges of bribery and other crimes amounting to nearly 120 million yuan, with his lawyer suggesting the possibility of a life sentence or even the death penalty.
Moreover, Li Yuyi, a former vice chairman of the Chinese Football Association, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribery on August 19th of this year.
Since Li Tie’s investigation, 14 high-ranking officials within the Chinese Football Association have been implicated in corruption cases, with five individuals already sentenced and nine awaiting trial. Some netizens jokingly suggested that these officials could form a team in prison.
In addition to Li Yuyi, the other four officials sentenced were Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Chinese Football Association, sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance; Yu Hongchen, former vice chairman of the Chinese Football Association, sentenced to 13 years in prison in the first trial; Chen Yongliang, former executive deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Football Association, sentenced to 14 years in prison; and Dong Zheng, former general manager of the Chinese Super League, sentenced to 8 years in prison.
The nine officials awaiting sentencing include Du Zhaocai, former party committee secretary of the Chinese Football Association; Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national team; Liu Yi, former secretary-general of the Chinese Football Association; Huang Song, former director of the competition department of the Chinese Football Association; Wang Xiaoping, former head of the Discipline Committee of the Chinese Football Association; Tan Hai, former director of the technical department of the Chinese Football Association; Ma Chengquan, former chairman of the Chinese Super League; Qi Jun, former director of the strategic planning department of the Chinese Football Association; and Liu Jun, former chairman of the Chinese Super League.
Independent writer Zhu Ge Mingyang expressed to Dajiyuan that when money can buy off officials and match-fixing is prevalent, the value of training and developing professional skills for ordinary players diminishes significantly.
Under the long-standing “anti-Japan” indoctrination by the CCP, sports competitions between China and Japan are often colored by political and distorted “patriotic” sentiments. During the recent match, a Chinese man dressed in old Communist attire was seen at the venue, rallying Chinese fans by reciting three common phrases from the CCP Propaganda Department, emphasizing unity and persistence. These actions highlighted the intertwined complexities of sports with politics and historical sensitivities.
Ultimately, the Chinese team suffered a 0-7 defeat, leaving one distraught Chinese fan at the scene in tears, lamenting, “If you can’t beat them, at least fight dirty.” Several Japanese players participating in European leagues were cautious of getting injured and suggested that the Chinese team should have been more aggressive to prevent them from playing casually.
The serious demeanor of the fan making such statements seemed to reflect genuine feelings, leaving social media users both shocked and dismayed. Comments ranged from condemnation of such hate-fueled sentiments to questioning the loss of dignity and sportsmanship.
Interestingly, despite the high public interest in the China-Japan game, CCTV chose not to broadcast the match, citing exorbitant broadcasting fees and the station’s commitment to resisting disruptive practices in the sports rights market. Many citizens supported this decision as a means to avoid widespread disappointment and anger among the Chinese population.
Political commentator and prominent YouTuber Jiang Feng suggested that there might be underlying reasons for CCTV’s non-broadcast. Given the recent spike in anti-Japanese sentiment due to the CCP’s rhetoric on Japan’s nuclear water discharge, a victory for China could lead to unrest while a defeat might also provoke public outrage. With increasing unemployment and societal tension, any fissure could trigger major social upheaval, prompting CCTV’s cautious approach in avoiding potential unrest.
In China, a sporting defeat often transforms into a national failure, particularly in games against Japan, potentially leading to questioning of the country’s and leadership’s capabilities. Jiang Feng highlighted that CCTV’s wide-reaching propaganda allows for collective venting of emotions simultaneously, a situation the CCP fears, thus explaining their decision not to broadcast the match.