China President Xi Jinping, who has a great affinity for football will meet FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in Beijing on Wednesday.
Xi Jinping has publicly acknowledged his love for football and desire to make China a football powerhouse for the future. He wants the country to host the World Cup, and amid concerns about Qatar being able to host the 2022 World Cup, Xi will meet FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the palatial Great Hall of the People
There has also been speculation regarding China’s bid to host the World Cup either in 2030 or 2034.
In 2002, China made their sole World Cup appearance, where they lost all three group matches and failed to score a goal.
Xi wants his country to host the global football extravaganza and hopes Chinese national team can one day win the sport’s most prestigious trophy.
But China, who languish down at 82nd in FIFA’s world rankings just below Benin and the tiny Faroe Islands, look certain to miss out on qualification for Russia 2018.
Chinese Football Association Vice President Zhang Jian, a member of the FIFA Council which devises the institution’s global strategy, said last year that he would back a Chinese World Cup in 2030. Chinese intent of becoming a football powerhouse has been visible on the business side of things more than anything else. Three major Chinese companies have signed sponsorship deals with FIFA in the space of a year.
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