China’s national football team faced a significant setback in their quest for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Australia in the AFC qualifiers on Tuesday. Playing on home turf at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in east China’s Zhejiang Province, China’s hopes are now in jeopardy with only two matches remaining.
The Australian side took an early lead 16 minutes into the game when Jackson Irvine capitalized on a defensive error. Irvine’s initial shot was blocked, but a slip by Chinese midfielder Huang Zhengyu allowed him to regain possession and fire a shot into the far corner.
Australia doubled their advantage in the 29th minute. Nishan Velupillay seized on a mistake by Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei, whose handling error let Velupillay’s close-range strike slip through his hands into the net.
In an effort to turn the tide, naturalized player Sai Erjiniao made his debut for China at the start of the second half. His presence boosted the host’s attacking momentum, energizing a record crowd of 70,588 fans. Despite several chances, China was unable to break through Australia’s defense.
China now sits at the bottom of Group C with six points. To keep their World Cup dreams alive, they must secure victories against Indonesia and Bahrain in June.
“The next two matches are the key,” said China’s head coach Branko Ivankovic. “We must fight for victories. It’s not a result we want to see. Australia performed better in the first half and scored two goals, while we were the better side in the second half. It’s a shame we didn’t convert any of our opportunities.”
Australia’s head coach Tony Popovic acknowledged China’s second-half efforts. “China gained momentum after the break, and it took us some time to regain control and secure the win,” he said. “The first half was excellent for us, and I’m pleased with the result.”
The top two teams in each six-team group will directly qualify for the World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will move into the next phase of qualifying.
