The Chinese national football team (China PR) have been perennial contenders for the Asian Cup, most recently finishing second in 2004. The side failed to score a goal in their maiden World Cup appearance in Korea/Japan 2002. The Chinese national team was founded in 1924 and joined FIFA in 1931-58 and in 1979.

After the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom in 1997, and Macau from Portugal in 1999, they have continued to have their own teams, which play as "Hong Kong, China" and "Macau, China". The team playing as "China" represents mainland China only.

As football is widely followed in the People's Republic of China, any triumph by the national team is considered to be a source of national pride. Around 300 million people tuned in to broadcasts of China's World Cup 2002 matches, and there were possibly even more viewers for the Asian Cup 2004 finals.

One interesting thing about Chinese football is related to their neighbour, South Korea. China have played about 30 matches against them since 1950 but they have never won against South Korea at all, in spite of finishing higher in a number of tournaments. Chinese football journalists call it "Koreaphobia."

The Chinese national football team is currently sponsored by Adidas.

World Cup record

• 1930 to 1954 - Did not enter
• 1958 - Did not qualify
• 1962 to 1978 - Did not enter
• 1982 to 1998 - Did not qualify
• 2002 - Round 1
• 2006 - Did not qualify

Asian Cup record

• 1956 to 1972 - Did not enter
• 1976 - Third place
• 1980 - Round 1
• 1984 - Second place
• 1988 - Fourth place
• 1992 - Third place
• 1996 - Quarterfinals
• 2000 - Fourth place
• 2004 - Second place

East Asian Cup record

• 2003 - Third place
• 2005 - Champion

Famous players

1930s

• Tam Kong Pak
• Li Hui-t'ang

Post WWII

• Dong Fangzhuo
• Du Wei
• Hao Haidong
• Fan Zhiyi
• Li Jinyu
• Li Tie
• Li Weifeng
• Li Xiaopeng
• Qu Bo
• Qu Shengqing
• Shao Jiayi
• Sun Jihai
• Yang Chen

Current Players

See also

• Football in China
• China women's national football team
• Hong Kong national football team
• Macau national football team
• Chinese Taipei national football team

External links

• China FA
• Coca-Cola Can of China's Football Team Signatures
• FIFA profile - China PR

Asian national football teams | Football in China

Chinesische Fußballnationalmannschaft | Selección nacional de fútbol de China | Équipe de Chine de football | Tim nasional sepak bola Republik Rakyat Tiongkok | Nazionale di calcio della Cina | נבחרת סין בכדורגל | Chinees voetbalelftal | Reprezentacja Chin w piłce nożnej | Seleção Chinesa de Futebol | Kinas herrlandslag i fotboll | 中國國家足球隊