China's Football Association experienced a significant reshuffle in its upper echelons in 2023, with several high-ranking figures falling from grace, leaving the entire football world on edge due to an anti-corruption storm. The new chairman, Song Kai, must feel the immense pressure he faces. His upcoming tasks are more challenging than leveling up in a game, as the confidence in the football world has almost collapsed, and the management system is like scattered sand, lacking any discernible organizational strength.
In contrast, Saudi Arabia has begun methodically preparing to bid for the 2034 World Cup, even starting the bidding process with FIFA, quickly completing most of the preparations. Looking at China, which has just replaced its leadership, everything must start from scratch, from resource integration to plan formulation; all these tasks must be tackled step by step.
With such limited time, it was impossible to meet the submission deadline for the FIFA bidding materials, resulting in a complete failure. Regarding the bidding, who can't say the truth? Isn't this an old problem that has accumulated since China's failed World Cup bid in 2009? Over a decade has passed, and not only have the problems not been resolved, but they have accumulated even more. Management changes have led to a deeply rooted trust crisis.
Without sufficient competitiveness, how could one think of applying for the World Cup, assuming they could secure a seat through the host country status? It's embarrassing even to think about it. Some netizens say: "I don't know whether to laugh or cry; Saudi Arabia is already prepared, while we have no movement here." Even the basic bidding documents couldn't be handled, causing utter disappointment.
Everyone's emotions are understandable; after all, bidding for the World Cup is a dream and expectation for football fans. However, without even completing the basics, how can one not feel frustrated? We cannot overlook the current situation of the Chinese men's football team. Looking at the current world ranking, 90th place, 13th in Asia, there is still a considerable distance from the top level. If they qualified for the World Cup solely based on the host country status, wouldn't it be embarrassing? To say nothing else, look at the result of Qatar hosting the World Cup last year, losing all three matches, becoming a laughingstock.
As fans, we sincerely hope that the national team can earn their ticket through their actual performance rather than relying on such lucky opportunities. Bidding for the World Cup also requires consideration from multiple aspects. After all, such a large-scale event not only excites fans but also involves organizational costs, the domestic football foundation, long-term benefits, etc., which are all practical issues that must be considered.
Looking at the current state of Chinese football, frankly, our level is not enough, and our ability to manage football is still in the trial-and-error stage. It can be said that the timing is really not ripe. If we were to force a bid, the outcome would be predictable. Even Saudi Arabia is well-prepared, while we haven't even drafted a plan. How could we possibly stand out?
A netizen commented: "Does the Chinese Football Association dare to openly admit that it doesn't have the power to compete with Saudi Arabia?" It might as well directly admit defeat; otherwise, wasting time is meaningless. Saudi Arabia has been preparing for a long time, investing resources in all aspects, showing remarkable efficiency.
On the other hand, China, after changing its leadership, couldn't even draft a bidding plan. We should really consider whether we have the confidence to compete with Saudi Arabia. Another worrying issue is the football environment and trust crisis. Every time Chinese football makes a move, outsiders start to laugh, especially in recent years, with frequent management issues and unsatisfactory player performances, causing us to lose confidence in Chinese football.
You think, Saudi Arabia could successfully complete the bidding, while China couldn't even submit a draft; it's really disheartening. Some netizens also mentioned: "Although it's a pity to give up bidding, I can understand it. Chinese football now needs to focus on building a solid foundation instead of enthusiastically bidding for the World Cup."
These words make sense; our Chinese football is currently lacking, not the glamorous host country status, but more solid training and talent cultivation. Football cannot be achieved overnight; relying solely on bidding for the World Cup won't solve the fundamental problems.
From another perspective, Saudi Arabia's proactive application greatly increases the chances of success. This is not only because they are well-prepared but also because their influence in the international football arena is growing. After all, Saudi Arabia's investment in sports, especially football, in recent years is no joke.
The Chinese Football Association's decision to give up this opportunity can be seen as a mature strategic decision to some extent. If the national team truly relied on the host country status to enter the World Cup, it would only end up more disgraceful. The national team can't even win against strong Asian teams; how could they expect to qualify for the World Cup through the host country status? This is also the sentiment of many fans. Everyone can see that the national team's performance hasn't reached the level to take on the World Cup stage.
It's better to invest time and energy into improving their own strength and truly give fans hope. Even if we give up bidding for the 2034 World Cup, at least we can still strive to secure a spot through our strength in the upcoming qualifiers. Giving up the bid for the 2034 World Cup may be regrettable, but it's also a sober decision. Currently, the most important task for Chinese football is to climb out of the trough and improve the domestic football level. As for the World Cup, let's talk about it when we truly possess the strength to challenge the world's top teams.