China PR return to U-20 Women's World Cup after eight-year absence

China PR are set to return to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup for the first time in eight years, with head coach Wang Jun expressing confidence that his side can make a positive impression at the tournament in Poland.

The team last appeared at the global youth showpiece in 2018, when a 95th-minute own goal in their final group match against Nigeria ended their campaign in France. Since then, China have been absent from the competition, but a top-four finish at this year's AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup secured their place at Poland 2026.

A proud history and a new chapter

China PR were a dominant force in the early years of the U-20 Women's World Cup. After missing the inaugural tournament in 2002, they reached the final in 2004 and 2006, losing to Germany and Korea DPR respectively. However, from 2008 to 2018, they exited at the group stage in three of five appearances, before a prolonged period away from the global stage.

Now, the team is back among the world's elite, and Wang Jun, a 50-year-old from Tianjin with extensive experience in women's football, is leading the charge. He was appointed in early July, but the team has been in a 46-day training camp, first in Kunming and Dalian, then in Frankfurt, Germany, ahead of the group opener against New Caledonia on 7 September.

Optimism for women's football in China

Wang, who also had a caretaker spell with the senior national team in 2023, believes this is an exciting period for women's football in China. The U-17 team has qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and the senior side has booked a fourth consecutive appearance at the FIFA Women's World Cup, set for Brazil in 2027.

“China attaches great importance to the development of women’s football. We once stood at the forefront of global women’s football, and now we are in a phase of catching up with high-level nations,” Wang told FIFA.

He added: “While learning from others, we are also exploring a style of play suited to Chinese players, one closely linked to our traditional culture. On the basis of expanding the football population, aligning our tactical and technical development philosophy, and pursuing coordinated progress for all our national youth teams under one unified vision, is the direction we strive for. We hope we can stay firmly on this path.”

Preparation and tournament goals

Despite the short time since his appointment, Wang is determined to leave no stone unturned. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, tenacity, and a progressive style of play.

“I hope that our team can demonstrate our traits of teamwork, tenacity, resilience under pressure and a hunger to compete at the top level, and pursue progressive tactics: concise, quick, forward-oriented and precise attacking football,” he said.

He also highlighted the role of mindset: “I also value the impact of mindset on individual players and teams. The depth and breadth of a team’s mindset shape its understanding of tournaments. Besides, when facing outstanding teams from other continents at the World Cup, we need to elevate our overall capability and find ways to secure victories.”

China will face New Caledonia in their opening match, followed by a rematch with Nigeria, and a group-stage clash with Spain in Sosnowiec. While results in Poland are important, Wang sees the tournament as a crucial step for the development of his young players.

“Returning to the U-20 Women's World Cup is crucial for the development of the young generation of our players. While showcasing their abilities, they can gauge the gap between themselves and the world’s top teams, continuously improve themselves, and prepare for future appearances at the Women’s World Cup,” he concluded.