A youth triumph that offers hope for Chinese football
12 June 2026

A youth triumph that offers hope for Chinese football

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They are champions. They are trailblazers. And they're only 12 years old. A group of Chinese youngsters has stunned Europe, becoming the first Asian team to win Italy's prestigious Sigismondi Cup, often called the "Mini World Cup" of youth football. What did these players get right? Is this simply a remarkable youth football story? What lessons can China's football system learn? And can this generation finally help China return to the World Cup stage?
Host TU Yun joins Dr. Liu Tianbiao, Professor at the College of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Mike Bastin, a China observer and senior lecturer at the University of Southampton, England, and Brandon Yates, CGTN Senior Content Editor and Sports Host, to explore the victory, the vision, and the future of Chinese football.