Why China strikes Olympic gold but misses the World Cup
Success in the world’s biggest team sports continues to elude a country that otherwise excels at turning talent into medals.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
China sits 91st in FIFA’s world rankings, behind countries with a fraction of its population, wealth and resources.
PHOTO: AFP
For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico last week featured a flag roll call introducing 48 competing nations, up from the traditional 32. But even with the expanded format, China was nowhere to be seen.
It surely was not for lack of trying.
