Translation:
The 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers Round of 18 has completed six rounds, and the next stage of the competition will resume in March 2025, a critical period for determining the qualification situation. The Chinese men's football team will face Saudi Arabia away and Australia at home in March. To better prepare for these decisive battles, the Chinese national team will hold training from January 8 to January 18. Ivanković announced the latest list of players for the national team training camp, as follows:
Compared to the previous national team roster, Ivanković has called up eight newcomers and dropped three veterans. In the goalkeeper position, Liu Dianzuo did not make it into this training roster, replaced by young player Jian Tao. On the defensive line, Jiang Guangtai and veteran Wu Lei were not selected. Players making their first appearance under Ivanković's leadership include Hou Yongyong, Huang Zhengyu, Mai Wulang, Yang Liyu, Han Pengfei, Wu Shaocong, and Wumiti Jiang. According to statistics, the average age of the players in this training camp is 26.7 years old, with a total of 11 players born after 2000, showing Ivanković's determination to push for rejuvenation in the national team, which is great news for Chinese football.
From the training roster, Hou Yongyong's inclusion has attracted the most attention from fans. Hou Yongyong plays in the Norwegian First Division and scored a total of 19 goals with 8 assists last season, becoming the top scorer and winning the Best Player award in the league. Therefore, Hou Yongyong's selection can be said to be well-deserved. Perhaps Hou Yongyong will be a secret weapon for the national team in the Round of 18. Additionally, the proportion of players from Xinjiang in Ivanković's training roster is increasing, with a total of three players from Xinjiang, one each in the front, midfield, and defense.
Bai Helamu has successfully established himself in the national team through his efforts. He scored a crucial goal against Thailand in the Round of 36, which ultimately allowed the national team to narrowly advance by comparing head-to-head records with Thailand. In the Round of 18, Bai Helamu opened the scoring against Indonesia, helping the national team win 2-1. His relentless hustle on the field left a deep impression on fans. Both Mai Tiliang and Wumiti Jiang are only 20 years old, and Ivanković is thinking about the future of the national team.
Moreover, the Chinese Football Association is working on naturalizing Xiao Oscar and Serginho, and it is expected that both will join Chinese citizenship soon. At that time, they will appear in the match against Saudi Arabia. By then, Ivanković will have three naturalized players: Xiao Oscar, Serginho, and Hou Yongyong. The strength of the national team will be further enhanced, and defeating the struggling Saudi team away from home will no longer be a dream but a possibility.
In the Round of 18, the Chinese men's football team is grouped with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia in Group C. After the first six rounds, the Chinese national team has the same record as Bahrain, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, all with 6 points. The national team ranks at the bottom of the group due to a goal difference disadvantage but is only one point behind second-placed Australia, greatly increasing the chances of finishing fourth and even competing for a direct promotion spot.
The national team's last four opponents are Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, and Bahrain. For the national team, they need to secure at least 6 points in the last four rounds to ensure a chance to enter the playoffs. If they can snatch points from the strong teams of Australia and Saudi Arabia, the national team will have the opportunity to grab 14 points to compete for a direct entry into the 2026 World Cup.