China’s football authority to form national esports team
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has officially announced the formation of a national esports football team, marking China’s entry into competitive digital football. The team will represent the nation in virtual football tournaments organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA.
A strategic shift towards esports
This move comes in the wake of the Chinese men’s national football team failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With esports rapidly growing in popularity across China, supported by robust infrastructure and a thriving community, the CFA is now turning its focus to digital football.
To support this initiative, the CFA has invited applications from host cities and potential partners. Interested parties must submit a letter of intent by 29 July 2025. Selected host cities will be responsible for providing training facilities, managing event logistics, and offering financial backing.
Role of FIFA and AFC
China’s national esports football team will participate in official tournaments sanctioned by FIFA and the AFC, including potential appearances in FIFAe and other digital competitions. Unlike traditional football, these matches are played in a virtual format, placing emphasis on strategy, reaction time, and gaming skills rather than physical athleticism.
Host cities will be required to offer specialised training facilities equipped with high-speed internet, professional-grade gaming equipment, and areas dedicated to performance analysis. Additionally, the CFA will designate certain partners to establish “cooperation zones” that will contribute financial resources, logistical support, talent development, and infrastructure planning.
CFA stated, “The new national esports soccer team will compete in events organized by FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and other organizations.”
China’s esports legacy
China has long been a dominant force in the global esports arena, with teams such as Invictus Gaming and PSG.LGD achieving international acclaim in titles like League of Legends and Dota 2. The country has previously explored football esports through ventures like the FC Online China Pro League and a 2021 partnership between Tencent and the English Premier League to host a regional ePremier League.
This new programme presents exciting opportunities for young gamers to represent China on the international stage. The establishment of a national esports football team reflects a calculated shift towards online sports, leveraging existing infrastructure and growing interest to expand China’s influence in global football through virtual platforms.
Changing landscape of digital football
Following the split between FIFA and EA Sports, FIFAe tournaments now feature titles such as eFootball and Rocket League. This development may influence the choice of platform for China’s national esports football team.
China is not alone in investing in football esports. In June, Portugal’s Football Federation partnered with UFL, a free-to-play football game, to promote grassroots esports tournaments. Meanwhile, Wolves Esports—affiliated with Wolverhampton Wanderers—is building a 10,000-square-foot esports facility in Chongqing, backed by the Lvfa Group.
