Surprisingly, China has not yet given up on qualifying for the World Cup.
The Chinese national football team is currently at the bottom of Group C in the 2026 North and Central American World Cup Asian third qualifying round, with a record of 2 wins and 6 losses. The leader, Japan (6 wins, 2 draws), has already secured a spot in the World Cup finals.
China still has a chance. The point gap from second-place Australia (3 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss, 13 points) to fifth-place Bahrain (1 win, 3 draws, 4 losses, 6 points) is 7 points. Though slim, there is a possibility for China to qualify for the playoffs depending on the outcomes of the remaining matches.
China will play an away match against Indonesia on June 5 and face Bahrain at home on the 10th. The atmosphere is very different with the dismissal of coach Shin Tae-yong and the appointment of Patrick Kluivert in Indonesia.
The problem is Japan. The already qualified Japan will be crucial in whether they deploy their full strength against Australia and Indonesia. If Japan can defeat other teams, China will have a glimmer of hope.
Chinese media 'Shuho' noted, "China is at the bottom of Group C, but there is a chance for a playoff spot depending on the results against Indonesia and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia has also not yet secured a spot in the finals. The problem is Japan. If Japan does not send their key players, Indonesia's win probability could rise slightly."
The media continued, "Japan has a deep player pool. There are no worrying factors. For China, which cannot qualify for the World Cup on its own, this is a concern."
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