China's men's national football team is going all out to prepare for the 2027 Asia Cup, head coach Shao Jiayi said in an interview released by the China Media Group on Sunday.
Shao, who took charge of the team in November 2025, said they are working against time to rebuild and improve the team for the tournament in Saudi Arabia, which will be held from 7 January to 5 February 2027.
"During the 18-team qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup over the past year, we've seen many Southeast Asian teams making rapid progress. That got me thinking that now is the time for us to act quickly. Although it may seem like we have a year to prepare [for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup], when we calculate the actual time available for national team training and matches, it totals only around 100 days," Shao said.
The team had already kicked off its first training camp of 2026 preparing for future international competitions, including the 2027 Asia Cup and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Among the 26-player squad for the team's first training camp of 2026, which runs from January 4 to 27 in Zhaoqing City, south China's Guangdong Province, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, are four newcomers Li Yang, Yan Bingliang, Ma Zhen and Lyu Zhuoyi.
Shao said these and other young players will bring new momentum to the team.
"Young players undoubtedly represent the future. In the upcoming training camp in March, it's possible that new faces will join the team. In fact, in recent youth competitions, we've been very close to a breakthrough. I believe that as long as we keep working hard, that moment of breakthrough will arrive soon," said Shao.
China's men's national football team goes all out in preparation for 2027 Asia Cup
Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, among the hardest hit.
Lebanon's Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said that the airstrikes had killed 89 people and injured 722. The death toll continues to rise as the Israeli airstrikes continue.
Footage taken by a China Media Group (CMG) reporter in Beirut showed thick smoke billowing from densely packed buildings in the Lebanese capital after the attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying that it conducted a large-scale airstrike in multiple locations in Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military targets.
The IDF also mentioned that this is the largest strike since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel's airstrikes against Lebanon, saying that Israel has repeatedly violated international law and committed another act of genocide.
Aoun said Israel was blatantly violating all humanitarian principles and undermined efforts to achieve peace and stability, and Israel should bear full responsibility for the consequences of its actions.
Aoun also called on the international community to take action to curb Israel's aggressive behavior that threatens regional security.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that Lebanon welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, but Israel has continued to escalate its attacks, causing civilian casualties in Lebanon.
Salam also called on the international community to use all feasible measures to stop Israeli attacks.
Israeli airstrikes kill at least 89 across Lebanon, wounding over 700: Lebanese minister
