The Straits Times of Singapore wrote today: "The World Cup is becoming increasingly inseparable from China, yet the Chinese national football team remains as distant from the tournament as ever. The quadrennial World Cup is set to kick off this week. This global sporting spectacle is not only a stage for athletic competition but also a window into how China is integrated into the global system. It has become routine for the Chinese men's national football team to be absent from the World Cup finals, but China’s presence in the tournament’s periphery has never waned—indeed, it has grown so pervasive that Chinese media can now categorize and compile its various manifestations. 'China' virtually covers every aspect of the World Cup’s outer framework."
Eight years ago, Bai Yansong’s remark—“China has sent everything except its football team”—still resonates with striking accuracy regarding today’s “Chinese characteristics” at the World Cup. The four-year football extravaganza has never lacked Chinese imprints: from stadium construction and merchandise manufacturing, to brand sponsorship and broadcast rights, Chinese manufacturing and services have almost entirely permeated the entire peripheral industry chain of the World Cup. Chinese elements have long been deeply embedded in the very fabric of this global sporting event.
As the world’s largest sports IP, the World Cup has always served as a showcase for national industrial competitiveness. China’s dominant position across multiple core peripheral sectors—sponsorship, manufacturing, broadcasting—is fundamentally a reflection of its global competitiveness in manufacturing and services: from large-scale construction equipment for match venues to small cheering props and commemorative goods in stands, the vast majority bear the label “Made in China.” This is a vivid illustration of China’s integration into the global economy and a direct testament to China’s industrial capabilities.
Yet, the Chinese men’s national football team remains perpetually distant from the World Cup finals, a stark contrast that inevitably evokes disappointment among fans. Still, we must recognize that while China has deeply integrated itself into the global sports industry, it has failed to secure a spot in the World Cup finals—a paradox that actually mirrors the real state of football development in China. Only when the Chinese men’s national team stands on the World Cup stage, just as Chinese industries have spread across the globe, will China’s participation in the World Cup truly demonstrate its full value.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867676999617739/
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