"I Want to Jump into the Huangpu River"... Chaos in China After 0-7 Defeat to Japan

16 Consecutive Losses Against Japan
China Criticizes, "Football Roots Are Rotten"

The Chinese national football team suffered a crushing defeat by a '7-goal margin' against Japan, leaving Chinese football fans in great shock.

On the 6th (local time), AP News and others reported that the Chinese national football team lost 0-7 in the first match against Japan in Group C of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asian third qualifying round held in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on the afternoon of the 5th.

China has not won a single match in the last 16 games against Japan. Furthermore, this result marked the largest margin of defeat China has ever suffered against Japan and the most goals conceded in a single World Cup qualifying match.

China suffered a heavy 0-7 defeat against Japan in the first match of Group C in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia third qualifying round held on the afternoon of the 5th in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. [Image source=Seongdo Top News]

Previously, China was grouped with Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia in Group C, prompting complaints about the "worst World Cup group draw in history," yet they pinned their hopes on the match against Japan. A Chinese media outlet stated, "With all the warnings resolved and suspension burdens eased, we can do our best," adding, "If we throw our bodies into proper defense and hold on, we can block Japan's attacks and earn points." Some interpreted this as a foreshadowing of 'Shaolin Soccer,' a sarcastic reference to China's football style bordering on foul play and rough physicality.

However, contrary to local expectations, the Chinese team was helplessly overwhelmed by Japan, prompting reactions of "great shock" locally. Sohu.com harshly criticized, saying, "With the 0-7 defeat, Chinese football is completely ruined," and "Since the roots of Chinese football are rotten, instead of trying to cure the poison by scraping it out, we should just tear it down and start over."

Pan Ziyi, captain of the Chinese national football team in the 1990s, commented during the broadcast, "Losing to Japan is acceptable, but the opponent scores too easily," expressing frustration by saying, "I want to jump into the Huangpu River (Shanghai)."

Chinese local media mostly published only brief articles titled "China lost to Japan in World Cup qualifiers," and state-run media responses were generally close to silence. However, on local social networking services (SNS), criticism poured in such as "Even Japanese players probably didn't expect this," "The national team is embarrassing," and "The football players play as cautiously as pregnant women."

Additionally, Chinese President Xi Jinping is known as an avid football fan who has made massive investments and provided unwavering support to the national team. Foreign media pointed out, "Therefore, President Xi is unlikely to take this defeat lightly." However, journalist and football commentator Zhang Peng remarked, "Football requires technical, physical, and tactical training, which cannot be achieved through politics."