The Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup have concluded, with the first six rounds of matches completed. In Group C, where the Chinese national team is located, the situation has become chaotic. Apart from Japan, the other five teams still have a chance to secure second place, and even if they end up with 10 points after 10 rounds, they might still finish at the bottom, making it a true "Group of Death."
China's highest ranking was fourth, but in the fifth round, Australia drew with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia lost 0-2 to Indonesia, and China lost 1-3 to Japan, leading to significant changes in the rankings. Four teams ended up with six points, but China's goal difference of -10 was the worst, resulting in them being ranked last. However, this current ranking is not important because the remaining four matches in 2025 will be the decisive battles. China's last four matches are against Australia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Bahrain. If they can draw with Australia and Saudi Arabia and then defeat Indonesia and Bahrain again, reaching 14 points would be enough to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ivan Kozlovic, the head coach of the Chinese national team, aims to lead the team to compete for a World Cup spot. After the first six rounds, Ivan's confidence has increased, and he has made two requests to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), one of which has already been approved, while the other concerns accelerating the naturalization process and bringing in foreign players to play for the national team.
According to Zhao Rui, a reporter from Oriental Sports Daily, Ivan hopes that the next season of the Chinese Super League (CSL) can start earlier so that the national team players can maintain their form through league matches. According to Beijing Youth Daily Sports, Ivan's request has been approved, and the new season of the CSL will kick off on February 22, 2025, and conclude on November 22, extending the duration from the usual nine months to ten months. This arrangement provides more favorable conditions for the national team's preparations and reduces the likelihood of injuries due to a dense schedule.
Ivan's other request is for the CFA to introduce one or two outstanding foreign players and expedite the naturalization process for Serginho and Little Oscar. If this can be achieved, the strength of the national team will significantly improve. Players like Wu Lei and Fernandinho, who are expected to recover by the start of the seventh round of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025, will return to the team, allowing China to field its full-strength lineup. While it cannot be guaranteed that they will score points against Australia and Saudi Arabia, there will at least be a chance to draw or even win, and they will also have a better chance against Indonesia and Bahrain.
The 29-year-old Brazilian midfielder Serginho plays for Changchun Yatai in the CSL and will meet the naturalization criteria at the beginning of next year. Throughout the 2024 season, Serginho played 25 games for Changchun Yatai, scoring eight goals. The 25-year-old Congolese player Little Oscar, an attacking forward, has repeatedly expressed his desire to play for the Chinese team and currently plays for Cangzhou Mighty Lions in the CSL.
With four months until the next round of the 18-team qualifiers begins, the CFA has ample time to complete the naturalization of Serginho and Little Oscar, although it will certainly require a significant amount of money. If both Serginho and Oscar join Ivan Kozlovic's squad, the Chinese national team stands a good chance of directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The opportunity is now within reach, and it remains to be seen what the CFA will do next.