Chinese FA Chairman Song Kai Visits Asian Games Men's Football Team After Opening Win

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 19, 2026— Chinese Football Association (CFA) chairman Song Kai visited China's men's Asian Games football team during training on Friday, congratulating head coach Antonio Puche and the players after their opening victory at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Song visited the team at the Toyota Sports Center in the afternoon and watched the squad's training session. According to Chinese football journalist Ma Dexing, Song told Puche:“Congratulations to you. Keep going.”

The visit came two days after China opened its men's football campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over North Korea.

China Comes From Behind Against North Korea

China fell behind in the 27th minute when Choe Kuk opened the scoring for North Korea.

The Chinese team responded just before halftime. Zhang Yuning headed home a cross from Wu Xi in the 44th minute to level the score.

Wu then became the match-winner in the 68th minute, finishing from Zhang's assist to complete China's comeback.

Despite having less than 40 percent possession, China produced five shots on target from 10 attempts. North Korea controlled 65 percent of possession and registered 19 shots, but China was more efficient in front of goal.

The result gave China three points in Group B and provided a positive start to the tournament.

Experienced Players Provide Leadership

China's squad is built largely around the team that finished runner-up at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, with three over-age players added to provide experience: Zhang Yuning, Wu Xi and Zhu Chenjie.

The contribution of the two senior attackers was particularly important against North Korea. Zhang and Wu combined for both of China's goals, with each player scoring once and assisting the other.

Wu Xi's appearance was also notable because it was his first appearance for a Chinese national side in two years and eight months.

Iran Next

China's attention now turns to its second Group B match against Iran on September 20.

The group also includes the United Arab Emirates and North Korea. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.

The Iran match will provide a different test for Antonio's side. While the victory over North Korea demonstrated China's ability to respond after conceding first, the team's relatively low possession and the number of chances allowed to its opponents remain areas to monitor.

Song Kai's visit therefore came at an important point in the campaign, with the team preparing for another demanding group match only a few days after its opening victory.

Focus Shifts From Celebration to Competition

The 2-1 win gave China an encouraging start, but the tournament remains at an early stage.

The coaching staff will now look to build on the result while addressing the areas exposed against North Korea. For the players, the immediate objective is to secure another positive result against Iran and strengthen their position in Group B.

With Song Kai visiting the training ground and offering his congratulations, the Chinese team has received a direct reminder of the attention surrounding its Asian Games campaign.

The next test will come on September 20, when China faces Iran with qualification for the knockout stage increasingly in focus.