The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has dismissed national team head coach Branko Ivankovic following China’s failure to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The CFA announced that Ivankovic’s contract was automatically terminated after the team didn’t advance to the playoff stage of the Asian qualifiers.
“The Chinese Football Association expresses gratitude to Mr. Branko Ivankovic and his coaching staff for their dedicated efforts and contributions to Chinese football. We wish Mr. Ivankovic all the best in his future endeavors,” the CFA stated.
In response to the vacancy, the CFA has appointed Dejan Djurdjevic as the caretaker manager for the men’s national team. The Serbian coach will lead China in the upcoming East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship. Earlier this year, Djurdjevic guided China’s U-20 national team to the quarterfinals of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup.
