China national under-23 football team
National association football team
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The China national under-23 football team, also known as the China Olympic team (国奥队), represents the People's Republic of China in international football competitions in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, as well as any other under-23 international football tournaments. It is governed by the Chinese Football Association (CFA). It combines two teams: China U-23 national team and China U-21 selection team.[1]
| Association | Chinese Football Association | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Head coach | Antonio Puche | ||
| Captain | Liu Haofan | ||
| FIFA code | CHN | ||
| |||
| Summer Olympics | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2008) | ||
| Best result | Group stage (2008) | ||
| AFC U-23 Asian Cup | |||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 2013) | ||
| Best result | |||
| Asian Games | |||
| Appearances | 5 (first in 2002) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2002, 2006, 2022) | ||
Competition history
* DNE = Did not enter; DNQ = Did not qualify; QBW = Qualified but withdrew.
* Pos = Position; P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against.
* Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Olympic Games record
- For 1900 to 1988, see China national football team.
* Including 1900 to 1988
Asian Games record
- For 1951 to 1998, see China national football team.
* Including 1951 to 1998
| Asian Games History | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Score | Result |
| 2002 | Round 1 | Win | |
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Quarterfinals | Loss | ||
| 2006 | Round 1 | Win | |
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Quarterfinals | Draw | ||
| 2010 | Round 1 | Loss | |
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round of 16 | Loss | ||
| 2014 | Round 1 | Loss | |
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round of 16 | Loss | ||
| 2018 | Round 1 | Win | |
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round of 16 | Loss | ||
| 2022 | Round 1 | Win | |
| Round 1 | Win | ||
| Round 1 | Draw | ||
| Round of 16 | Win | ||
| Quarter-finals | Loss | ||
East Asian Games record
AFC U-23 Asian Cup record
| Olympic Games Qualification |
| Year | Result | Final Stage | Preliminary Stage | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | W | D | L | F | A | M | W | D | L | F | A | ||
| Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 3 | |
| Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | |
| Withdrawn | |||||||||||||
| Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Runners-up | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| To be determined | |||||||||||||
| Total | Runners-up | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 29 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 58 | 8 |
2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Final
Recent results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss
2025
| 20 March 2025 CFA Team China Cup | China | 0–0 | | Yancheng, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 | Stadium: Yancheng Olympic Sports Center Stadium Attendance: 6,198 Referee: Du Jianxin (China) |
| 23 March 2025 CFA Team China Cup | China | 1–0 | | Yancheng, China |
| 15:30 UTC+8 |
|
Stadium: Yancheng Olympic Sports Center Stadium Attendance: 18,985 Referee: Ai Kun (China) |
| 25 March 2025 CFA Team China Cup | China | 1–1 | | Yancheng, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Stadium: Yancheng Olympic Sports Center Stadium Attendance: 8,628 Referee: Dai Yige (China) |
| 7 June Friendly | Belarus | 1–1 | | Minsk, Belarus |
| 18:00 UTC+3 |
|
|
Stadium: New Belarus National Stadium Attendance: 33,145 Referee: Nikita Shiyan (Belarus) |
| 3 September 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Q | China | 2–1 | | Xi'an, China |
| 19:35 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Xi'an International Football Center Attendance: 23,802 Referee: Chae Sang-hyeop (South Korea) |
| 6 September 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Q | Northern Mariana Islands | 0–10 | | Xi'an, China |
| 19:35 | Report |
|
Stadium: Xi'an International Football Center Attendance: 30,982 Referee: Wiwat Jumpao-on (Thailand) |
| 9 September 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Q | Australia | 0–0 | | Xi'an, China |
| 19:35 | Report | Stadium: Xi'an International Football Center Attendance: 33,022 Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan) |
| 10 October Friendly | China | 3–1 | | Kunming, China |
| 16:00 |
|
Stadium: Haigeng Sports Training Center |
| 14 October Friendly | China | 0–0 | | Kunming, China |
| 16:00 | Stadium: Haigeng Sports Training Center Referee: Xing Qi (China) |
| 12 November 2025 Panda Cup | China | 0–1 | | Chengdu, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Stadium: Shuangliu Sports Centre Attendance: 4,137 Referee: Shen Yinhao (China) |
| 15 November 2025 Panda Cup | China | 2–0 | | Chengdu, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Stadium: Shuangliu Sports Centre Attendance: 10,089 Referee: Tang Shunqi (China) |
| 18 November 2025 Panda Cup | China | 0–0 | | Chengdu, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 | Stadium: Shuangliu Sports Centre Attendance: 4,218 Referee: Dai Yige (China) |
2026
| 3 January Friendly | Iran | 1–0 | | Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates |
| Umidjan Yusup |
Stadium: Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium |
| 8 January 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup GS | Iraq | 0–0 | | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 17:00 | Report | Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium Attendance: 960 Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan) |
| 11 January 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup GS | China | 1–0 | | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 14:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Al-Shabab Club Stadium Attendance: 475 Referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia) |
| 14 January 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup GS | Thailand | 0–0 | | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 14:30 | Report | Stadium: Al-Shabab Club Stadium Attendance: 484 Referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar) |
| 17 January 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup QF | Uzbekistan | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p) | | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| 14:30 | Report | Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium Attendance: 578 Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain) | ||
| Penalties | ||||
|
||||
| 20 January 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup SF | Vietnam | 0–3 | | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| 18:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium Attendance: 1,141 Referee: Alex King (Australia) |
| 24 January 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Final | China | 0–4 | | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium Attendance: 8,188 Referee: Faisal Al-Balawi (Saudi Arabia) |
| 25 March Xi'an Tournament | China | 2–2 | | Xi'an, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Report | Stadium: Xi'an International Football Center Attendance: 17,318 Referee: Maimaitijiang (China) |
| 28 March Xi'an Tournament | China | 1–1 | | Xi'an, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Xi'an International Football Center Attendance: 42,613 Referee: Dai Yige (China) |
| 31 March Xi'an Tournament | China | 1–0 | | Xi'an, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Stadium: Xi'an International Football Center Attendance: 16,163 Referee: Tang Shunqi (China) |
| 6 June Zunyi Tournament | China | 1–0 | | Zunyi, China |
| 15:30 UTC+8 | He Yiran |
Stadium: Zunyi Olympic Sports Centre Stadium Attendance: 13,198 Referee: Ma Yunkun(China) |
| 9 June Guiyang Tournament | China | 3–0 | | Guiyang, China |
| 19:35 UTC+8 |
|
Stadium: Guiyang Olympic Sports Center Attendance: 32,476 Referee: Wang Jing(China) |
Olympic Games fixtures
2008 Olympic Games
All times local (GMT+8)
| China | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dong Fangzhuo |
(Report) | Brockie |
| China | 0–3 | |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Diego Thiago Neves |
Players
China U-23 current squad
The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Tajikistan on 6 and 9 June 2026; respectively[2]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Yu Jinyong | 6 July 2004 (aged 21) | ||||
| GK | Liu Qiwei | 21 December 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
| GK | Yao Haoyang | 28 October 2006 (aged 19) | ||||
| GK | Luan Yi | 16 August 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
| DF | Shi Songchen | 30 December 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
| DF | He Yiran | 27 February 2005 (aged 21) | ||||
| DF | Xuan Zhijian | 28 October 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
| DF | Wang Shiqin | 24 June 2003 (aged 22) | ||||
| DF | Peng Xiao | 28 July 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
| DF | Bao Shimeng | 2 July 2003 (aged 22) | ||||
| DF | Zhang Aihui | 27 May 2005 (aged 21) | ||||
| DF | Zhang Yingkai | 28 February 2004 (aged 22) | ||||
| DF | Umidjan Yusup | 28 February 2004 (aged 22) | ||||
| DF | Xu Junchi | 9 January 2005 (aged 21) | ||||
| MF | Liao Rongxiang | 27 October 2004 (aged 21) | ||||
| MF | Mutellip Iminqari | 2 May 2004 (aged 22) | ||||
| MF | Imran Memet | 3 May 2005 (aged 21) | ||||
| MF | Jin Yonghao | 25 May 2003 (aged 23) | ||||
| MF | Yang Haoyu | 25 May 2006 (aged 20) | ||||
| MF | Chen Zeshi | 21 February 2005 (aged 21) | ||||
| MF | Bao Shengxin | 1 August 2003 (aged 22) | ||||
| MF | Zhang Zhixiong | 27 September 2006 (aged 19) | ||||
| FW | Xiang Yuwang | 18 December 2003 (aged 22) | ||||
| FW | Du Yuezheng | 14 September 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
| FW | Li Xinxiang | 30 November 2005 (aged 20) | ||||
Previous squads
|
|
Overage players in Olympic Games
China U-23 captains
| Period | Captain | Vice Captain | Third Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1992 | Fan Zhiyi | Xu Hong | — |
| 1993–1994 | Zhang Enhua | Yang Chen | — |
| 1995–1996 | Shen Si | Zhang Enhua | – |
| 1998–1999 | Li Weifeng | Zhang Ran | — |
| 2001–2004 | Du Wei | Hu Zhaojun | — |
| 2006 | Chen Tao | — | — |
| 2006 Asian Games | Zheng Zhi | — | — |
| 2007 | Chen Tao | Feng Xiaoting | Zhou Haibin |
| 2007–2008 | Li Weifeng | Zhou Haibin | — |
| 2008 Olympic Games | Zheng Zhi | Li Weifeng | Zhou Haibin |
| 2009–2010 | Zhang Linpeng | Wu Xi | Piao Cheng |
| 2010 Asian Games | Wang Dalei | Zhang Linpeng | Wu Xi |
| 2011 | Wang Dalei | Zhang Linpeng | Wu Xi |
| 2012 | Jin Jingdao | — | — |
| 2013–2014 | Shi Ke | Wang Tong | — |
| 2014 Asian Games | Shi Ke | Li Ang | — |
| 2015 | Wang Tong | Shi Ke | — |
| 2016 | Chen Zhechao | Cheng Jin | — |
| 2017–2018 | He Chao | Gao Zhunyi | — |
| 2019–2020 | Huang Zhengyu | — | |
| 2023 | Tao Qianglong | — | |
| 2024 | Afrden Asqer | — | |
| 2025– | Liu Haofan | — | |
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Assistant coaches | |
| Goalkeeping coaches | |
| Fitness coaches | |
| Video analysts | |
| Match analyst | |
| Doctors | |
| Team coordinator | |
| Physiotherapists | Vacant |
List of head coaches
Manage records only includes international results.
- From 1981–1983 as "China Expectful team", 1983–1990 as "China B team".
| Name | Period | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Win % | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | ||
| 1982–1984 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 13 | 46.15% | ||
| 1985 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 80.00% | ||
| 1987–1990 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 23 | 33.33% |
- as China National Olympic team.
| Name | Period | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Win % | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1990 – Jan 1992 | 21 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 78 | 14 | 71.43% | ||
| Mar 1993 – Sep 1993 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 11 | 37.50% | ||
| Sep 1993 – Nov 1994 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100% | ||
| Nov 1994 – Mar 1996 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 44 | 25 | 58.82% | ||
| Oct 1998 – Nov 1999 | 21 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 11 | 71.43% | ||
| Dec 2001 – May 2004 | 35 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 56 | 38 | 45.71% | ||
| Apr 2006 – Oct 2006 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 14.23% | ||
| Nov 2006 – Jul 2008 | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 34 | 27 | 42.31% | ||
| Jul 2008 – Aug 2008 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 20.00% | ||
| Nov 2010 – Aug 2011 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 50.00% | ||
| Mar 2012 – Jan 2016 | 56 | 19 | 12 | 25 | 33.93% | ||||
| Sep 2016 – Feb 2017 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 44.44% | ||||
| Mar 2017 – Sep 2019 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 45% | ||||
| Feb 2021 – Mar 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% | ||||
| Mar 2023 – May 2024 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 44.45% | ||||
| Aug 2024 – Present | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 36.84% |