Team China take photos with supporters after the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup final match between China and Japan in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Jan 24, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]
Team China's gutsy run at the AFC U23 Asian Cup, which ended in a loss to Japan in the finals, has come as a timely morale booster for China's soccer reforms, and as a sobering reminder of the tasks that lie ahead.
Despite its confidence being at an all-time high and tactics fully honed after a history-making run to the final, the Chinese youth team still found its East Asian neighbor too tall an obstacle to overcome, as Japan overwhelmed it 4-0 in the gold-medal match at the Prince Abdul
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