Representatives from the Fedération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have called Chinese youth football a powerhouse in Asia.

China’s U20s won the U20 Asian championship in 1985 and were runners-up three times in 1982, 1996 and 2004.

Its U17s won the U17 Asian championship twice in 1992 and 2004 and advanced to FIFA’s U17 championship in 2005.

With such performances, it’s a wonder these youth teams have not transitioned to become a dominant national team. And it’s not for lack of trying as China and the Football Association of China (FAC) have invested no small amount of money and effort into developing their young talent.

Strong youth

Chinese football investment at schools and non-league football is relatively high. Young standout players throughout the country are often sent to train at advanced centers both in China and abroad.

Since 2004, all clubs playing in China’s top-tier C-League must field three youth teams of U15, U17 and U19 players.

These teams play in traveling competition similar to the C-League, not just at tournaments. The increased competitiveness has helped the young players mature.

Fans follow and support their games, making youth competition in China more exciting. The clubs with the best youth teams often end up in the best standing during league play. These are also the clubs most likely to send players to the national team.

In 1990, China sent some of its best young players to Brazil to train for three years. Li Tie and Li Jinyu came back from the training as two of China’s best footballers and were soon famous.

China now aims to train its players in England, Scotland, Germany and Italy. Many of the Chinese stars trained abroad have since played for large European clubs like Munich 1860, Celtic, Manchester United, Perugia and many more. Sun Jihai was even a starter for Manchester City and Sheffield United.

World Cup 2014

But despite the youth teams’ good results, big investment and the largest population on earth, China’s national team still has yet to win even a major Asian championship. Its biggest regional success was the East Asian Championship in 2005.

The national team’s best result was when coach Bora Milutinovic (2000- 2002) led them to a berth at the World Cup 2002, though the squad went home after three straight losses in the group stage.

On home soil at the 2008 Olympics, China also bowed out in the group stage after drawing with New Zealand and losing to Belgium and Brazil.

China also failed to qualify for the World Cup 2006 and 2010. Now the goal is to earn a place at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

With the World Cup in mind, national coach Gao Hong Bo has set his immediate goal as winning a berth at the Asian Cup 2011. Currently, China looks set to do so as it is in second place in its group behind Syria after its 6-1 win over Vietnam early this year. The first two teams in each group will advance.

China has also invested a lot in its U23 squad in hopes of playing in the Asian Games finals at home next year in Guangzhou. The team also wants a shot at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Managers in charge plan to send the U17s, U19s, and U20s to play at more competitions in Europe and Asia.

To prepare for the U19 Asian Championship in China next year, FAC has said it will also send its U19 players, with some U20s added, to participate in the U21 International Football Tournament in Vietnam this October.

Reported by Quang Tuyen