Pressure on China ahead of must-win clash with Indonesia to keep World Cup hope alive

By Trung Thu June 3, 2025 | 05:31 am PT

China national football team are under big pressure as they must win the two crucial fixtures in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to keep their hope of advancing.

China players celebrate a goal during a World Cup qualifying game. Photo by AFP

China currently sit at the bottom of group C with six points, level with Bahrain but behind on goal difference (-13 compared to -8). Indonesia hold a three-point advantage in third place, with a goal difference of -6.

According to tournament rules, rankings are determined first by points, then goal difference, goals scored and finally head-to-head records. Even if China win both of their remaining matches, against Indonesia on June 5 and Bahrain on June 10, they can still be eliminated.

A loss to Indonesia, however, would end their qualification chance immediately. This high-stakes scenario has visibly affected the squad.

"This is a battle for survival. Victory is the only option. There's no room for retreat," forward Zhang Yuning told Xinhua, adding that as the away side, China must turn pressure into momentum and showcase its strengths, training results, and team unity.

Wang Yudong, a rising star on the squad, said: "The veterans always share their experience. My role is to focus on the game, using speed and skills to challenge the opponents and help create an edge for the team."

In an effort to ease the pressure, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has enlisted experienced sports psychologists to help players manage stress, according to Chinese media outlet 163.

Sohu reported that head coach Branko Ivankovic has been running extended matches between squad players, which lasted more than 100 minutes, to maintain sharpness and tempo in high-pressure conditions.

All 25 players in the squad currently play in the domestic league. Compared to the 2-1 win over Indonesia in October 2024, the current squad have several new names, such as defender Wang Shiqin, midfielders Serginho and Yang Mingyang, and two 18-year-old forwards, Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu.

Serginho, a Brazilian-born player, made his debut for China in their 0-2 loss to Australia in March. Yang Mingyang, born in Switzerland, recently completed his naturalization and became eligible to play for China on May 19. The midfielder, born in 1995, previously represented Switzerland at the U16 through U20 levels.

The match between Indonesia and China will kick off at 8:45 p.m. on June 5 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.