Chinese National Football Team’s New Play: Anyone Can Try Out

Plagued by corruption, favoritism, and years of poor international results, China’s football association is tearing up its old playbook. A new self-recommendation system now allows any player — professional or amateur — to apply for the national team.

The move, announced by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) on March 1, is part of broader reforms aimed at overhauling China’s struggling football landscape and restoring public trust in the sport.

The system is open to all players with a Chinese ID, with no restrictions on age, gender, or background. However, applicants must prove their ability by passing a rigorous selection process. Those chosen will gain access to training camps and CFA competitions, giving grassroots talent a shot at the national stage.

In addition to basic personal information, all applicants are required to provide a detailed record of their football experience, including training history, past competitions, and the names of their coaches and club heads. 

To back up their claims, players must also submit video footage showcasing their ball-handling skills and past competition highlights, as well as physical test results for a 30-meter sprint, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, and pull-ups. 

“This is an important initiative to innovate the talent selection system, streamline and expand recruitment channels, identify talent through diverse means, and effectively prevent corruption in player scouting,” the CFA said in its announcement.

For years, the path to China’s national team has been far from open. Player selection has largely relied on youth clubs, school leagues, local tournaments, or insider recommendations — an opaque system long criticized for favoring those with financial backing or the right connections.

“Many talented players struggle to gain visibility from clubs due to factors such as location, financial constraints, or lack of recommendations, making it even harder for them to participate in high-level competitions,” Mo Xiangyu, the head of the Shanxi Xiangyu Football Club, told China’s national broadcaster CCTV.

The new self-recommendation system aims to level the playing field, giving grassroots players, including those who have built a following on social media, a direct path to the CFA.

“The self-recommendation system can help more talented athletes gain public visibility and be discovered by professionals,” said Zhang Lin, founder of Chaotong United Football Club in Beijing. He added that it will also support players who temporarily stepped away from professional training to focus on academics. 

Men’s football has long been one of China’s weakest sports, with the national team’s reputation further damaged by corruption scandals. Since 2022, at least 16 CFA officials and other football executives have been sentenced for bribery and misconduct.

Among them was Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese men’s national team, who accepted over 50.89 million yuan ($7 million) in bribes, including favors related to national team selections.

With talent selection long a point of contention in Chinese football, the new system has sparked widespread debate on social media.

The announcement has already drawn over 6.4 million views on microblogging platform Weibo, with many fans supporting the reform. Others, however, have called for stricter oversight to ensure transparency and prevent abuse.

“The idea is great, but the real challenge will be in ensuring strict enforcement and preventing the transfer of benefits. That’s the hardest part of the process,” read one of the top Weibo comments. 

The CFA says the selection process will be regularly monitored by its discipline inspection and supervision department, along with independent third-party overseers. After the initial evaluation, the names of selected players will be published on the CFA’s official website.

Editor: Apurva. 

(Header image: VCG)