Yearender: Amid World Cup heartbreak, China's football future finds footing

by sportswriters Wei Hua, Xiao Shiyao and Zhang Zewei

BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese football endured an eventful 2025 as the men's national team crashed out of 2026 World Cup qualifying, but a steady stream of emerging talent offered a glimmer of light.

Despite the familiar disappointment, the passion of Chinese football fans remained undimmed - from the national team to the flourishing grassroots