CHINA TOPIX

11/02/2024 01:22:50 pm

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China Plans to Become World Football Superpower by 2050

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(Photo : PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images) China has unveiled its strategy to become a world football superpower by 2050.

China, currently ranked 81 in the world by FIFA, has revealed its strategy to become a "world football superpower" by 2050. The strategy report on football was announced hours after China secured a 2-0 victory against the previously undefeated Qatar, giving the team a place in the final Asian qualifying stage for Russia 2018 World Cup.

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The 14-page national strategy document published on Monday, April 11 by the Chinese Football Association comes up with short, medium and long term goals with detailed micro level preparatory plans.

The document was jointly issued by a joint committee of the National Sports Administration, the education ministry, the Chinese Football Association, and National Development and Reform Commission.

The vision outlined in the document includes a goal of creating one football pitch for every 10,000 people by 2030. This ambitious plan also set a target to get 50 million children and adults to play football by 2020, with the final goal of becoming one of Asia's best team by 2030.

Other targets include having at least 20,000 football training centres and 70,000 pitches in place by 2020. By 2030, the document vowed that China's men's soccer team will be in Asia's top stratum, while its women group will considered one of the world's strongest team.

China's President Xi Jinping, who is an football fan, has called for improved soccer education among youngsters to improve the level of competition in the country. He has also called for efforts to achieve China's three key visions of hosting, qualifying and become a World Cup champion.

While China shines at the Olympics and Paralympics, the country has qualified for just one football World Cup - in 2002.

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