China
AFC boss puts dent in China's World Cup bid hopes
By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-21 15:00
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 A sporting goods store in Wangfujing, Beijing, shows off a humorous display highlighting China's inadequacy on the world soccer stage. The accompanying sign says: "Wait until we have grown up and then China may be able to qualify for the World Cup, but when will the team grow up?" [China Daily] |
BEIJING - Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam on Tuesday poured cold water on China's hopes of hosting the 2026 World Cup by expressing his strong support for the bids of several Asian countries chasing the 2022 Cup.
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"The AFC will always support Asian countries bidding for the World Cup."
South Korea, Japan, Australia and Qatar are in the race for the 2022 event. China's only chance to win the 2026 bid would come if none of those bids were successful.
Wei Di, head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), said earlier this week that China, inspired by the success of the tournament in South Africa, plans to bid for the 2026 Cup.
"It really moved us to see all the social benefits South Africa got from hosting the World Cup," Wei told the nation's leading sports newspaper, Titan Sports.
"The CFA is preparing to ask the General Administration of Sport to bid for the 2026 World Cup," he was quoted as saying.
"Everyone has been debating whether China should bid for the World Cup or when to bid, but seeing how successfully South Africa hosted it, I have to say that China has no reason not to bid and now is the best time."
However, the Asian soccer chief said AFC efforts will shift to China only if the Asian nations fail to succeed in 2022 bids.
"If we cannot make it for 2022, then we can work towards the 2026 World Cup," said Bin Hammam.
His confidence in seeing an Asian country succeed was boosted by the impressive performances of the region's teams during the recently-concluded South Africa World Cup.
"Asian teams played very well in South Africa; Japan and South Korea made into the last 16. Actually, their play and performances were worthy of a place in the quarterfinals," he said.
"The good Cup performances have provided an incentive for other parts of Asia to look for ways and means to develop football in their countries."
Among those nations is China, which has been struggling to catch up with its East Asian neighbors.
"I have discussed with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) the challenges and responsibilities of football development in Asia and China.
"As I promised before, the AFC is committed to helping develop the sport in China.
"China is a major part of the AFC. We would like to see China always playing in different international competitions."
Bin Hamman also said he had asked China to pay attention to the overall development of the game here, rather than just focus on the World Cup.
"The AFC and CFA discussed the importance of developing both professional and amateur football (in China)," he said.
"I'm sure, if it makes great efforts after what was discussed, China will be an Asian leader again.
"It's important (for the national teams) to have good performances. If so, the fans will be satisfied and support it, even if it does not qualify for the World Cup."
On Wednesday, Bin Hammam will attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the Chengdu FA Futsal Park.
The southwestern Chinese city is one of the standard-bearers of Hammam's brainchild, Vision Asia, and has embraced the program with gusto - setting benchmarks through its enthusiasm and devotion to popularizing the game.
The Vision Asia program has been implemented in five Chinese cities - Qingdao, Wuhan, Chengdu, Nanjing and Zibo - since its launch in 2002.
Five more cities will join the program this year. The education of coaches is also an important part of Vision Asia and, so far, the AFC has set up 39 camps for Chinese coaches.
CFA head Wei Di is upbeat about the game's future. "The AFC and Bin Hammam have been long-time supporters of Chinese soccer. Bin Hammam also believes Asia's football future is in China. The CFA will enhance its co-operation with the AFC in the coming years."