Chinese football is smiling at the news of Muhammad Kanno's (31, Al Hilal) injury ahead of the match against Saudi Arabia.
Chinese media outlet 'Sohu' reported on the 18th (Korea time) that 'the national team received unexpected good news before the game even started. The hope of winning in Saudi Arabia has significantly increased.'
The Chinese national team will play the 7th match of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian qualifiers on the 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After that, they are scheduled to hold the 8th qualifying match against Australia at home on the 25th.
Currently, China is in danger of elimination. They are at the bottom of Group C with 6 points. While China is tied on points with 3rd place Indonesia, 4th place Saudi Arabia, and 5th place Bahrain, they lag significantly in goal difference (-10) compared to Bahrain (-5). With four matches remaining, it will not be easy to overturn the goal difference.
The remaining schedule sequentially includes matches against Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, and Bahrain. If China fails to qualify for the World Cup again, it will be their sixth consecutive failure to reach the finals. Since the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, China has not stepped on the finals stage even once.
For this reason, Chinese football is putting everything on the line for the A-match this March. Chinese media outlets uniformly describe it as a 'life-or-death battle.' In fact, the national team has been training collectively in the Middle East for quite some time, coordinating their efforts.
There have been significant changes in the roster. Coach Branco Ivanković made the bold decision to exclude veteran players except for the 1989-born defender Zhang Linpeng, and instead selected 2006-born forwards Liu Chengyu and Wang Yidong. Additionally, a naturalized player from Brazil has joined the team for the first time.
Nevertheless, China's path to the World Cup remains challenging. Sohu noted that 'the outstanding performance in the Under-20 Asian Cup and the naturalization of Serginho have raised expectations among many football fans. However, it is still difficult for China to easily secure 3 points in the away match against Saudi Arabia. Expert agencies believe that the likelihood of China earning even 1 point against Saudi is slim.'
There has also been an analysis showing that China's probability of qualifying directly for the World Cup is only 2%. The media reported that 'according to data presented by expert agencies, China's chances of surviving in Group C are 29%, while the probability of finishing in the top two and qualifying directly is merely 2%. It is quite difficult for the national team to advance to the World Cup finals. Thus, there is a greater need for a bold challenge.'
In the meantime, there has been news that brings a glimmer of hope to China: Kanno, a key midfielder for the Saudi national team, has fallen due to injury. He is a player competing at Al Hilal, a club filled with star players, and is actively performing as a starter in the Saudi midfield.
The possibility that Kanno may miss the match against China has emerged. Sohu explained, 'Heaven is helping Chinese football. The national team has received yet another piece of good news.' According to Saudi reports, Kanno is currently receiving rehabilitation treatment for a thigh muscle issue. He has not participated in team training, making it possible that he will miss the match against China.
The media added, 'If Kanno does not play, it would certainly be great news. He possesses excellent ball control skills and precise passing techniques. Kanno's passes are a crucial weapon in orchestrating Saudi attacks by breaking through tight defenses. Moreover, he is key in transition between defense and offense and can enhance defensive stability.'
With Kanno missing, there is an analysis that China could significantly pursue victory. Sohu emphasized, 'Thus, if Kanno misses the game against China, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabia's strength will decrease significantly. For the Chinese national team, this is unexpected joy. To speak without exaggeration, if Kanno really does not play due to injury, China's chances of victory will increase significantly. I hope the national team seizes this opportunity.'
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Sohu, Chinese national team social media.
[OSEN = Ko Seong-hwan, reporter]