China PR target U20 Women's World Cup return
China PR's U20 women's team returns to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland 2026 after missing two editions.
China PR will compete at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026. The East Asian side returns after missing the previous two tournaments.
They qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™. Head coach Wang Jun believes the nation's focus on women's football development will help his players shine on the global stage.
Group F challenge
China PR faces a difficult group. Their fixtures are as follows:
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Sept 7 | New Caledonia |
| Sept 10 | Nigeria |
| Sept 13 | Spain |
They will play the 2022 champions Spain, two-time runners-up Nigeria, and debutants New Caledonia. Wang Jun told FIFA.com that China is exploring a playing style suited to its players and linked to traditional culture. "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," he said.
Historical context
China PR has six previous appearances in this tournament. Their best results were finishing as runners-up in 2004 and 2006. A notable fact from the AFC source is that they have not advanced past the group stage since that second final appearance in 2006.
Their next four participations all ended in the group stage. Coach Wang Jun stated that progression to the Round of 16 is a target for Poland 2026. However, he emphasized a focus on long-term development.
Development focus
Wang Jun views the World Cup as a crucial developmental step. He said returning to the tournament allows young players to gauge the gap with top teams and improve. "They represent the future of Chinese women’s football," he added.
Several players in the squad have been promoted to feature ahead of their age group. This is part of efforts to strengthen talent development across youth age groups and build momentum for future tournaments.
The team gained valuable experience at the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup. Their journey ended with a semi-final defeat to eventual champions Japan. Wang Jun noted that playing against a team with Japan's consistent global pedigree provided tremendous benefits.
Asian landscape and key players
Head coach Wang Jun reflected on the competitive Asian landscape. He identified China, Japan, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, and Australia as all holding competitive strengths in women's youth football. The strong recent form of DPR Korea and Japan in Asian and global tournaments requires close attention, he said.
Leading China PR's charge will be Zeng Yujia. She contributed two goals during her team's run to the Asian Cup semi-finals. Teamwork, however, is described as China PR's forte.
Wang Jun is working to ensure his players are at their peak for the opening match against New Caledonia on September 7.
