Chinese Football Association plans national esports football team

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced the creation of a national esports football team to compete in FIFA and AFC-sanctioned virtual football tournaments. This initiative represents a strategic shift for the governing body following the men's national team's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the subsequent dismissal of head coach Branko Ivanković.

The move leverages China's massive and rapidly growing esports sector, which boasts 490 million users, generated $38.5 billion in annual revenue, and hosted 124 major competitions in 2024 alone. The CFA has issued a call for host cities to become "cooperation zones," providing training facilities, logistical support, and funding to enable the national team's international participation. Interested cities have until July 29, 2025, to submit a formal letter of intent.

Football esports already has a presence in China, highlighted by the Premier League's 2021 partnership with Tencent for a regional ePremier League and the established FC Online China Pro League. However, the specific game titles the national team will focus on remain unclear due to FIFA's split from EA Sports, though the FIFAe platform currently features games like eFootball and Rocket League.

This development mirrors similar actions globally, such as Portugal's football federation partnering with UFL for digital competitions and Wolves Esports expanding its footprint in China with significant investment from Lvfa Group, including a large facility. The CFA's entry into football esports aims to reposition China's football narrative into a sector where it holds a competitive advantage, though its success in winning international titles or satisfying fans remains uncertain.