Editing China national football team (section)

====The Yugoslav era====

After poor forms in the [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2022 FIFA World Cup qualifications]], China took part in the [[2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship]] under interim manager [[Aleksandar Janković]]. With the leadership of Janković, China won four points, finishing third after a 1–0 win over [[Hong Kong national football team|Hong Kong]], though for the first time in 12 years, China did not lose to Japan away.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0725/c90000-10126791.html | title=China draws with Japan in East Asian Football Championship - People's Daily Online | access-date=5 December 2022 | archive-date=30 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930200214/http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0725/c90000-10126791.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Because of this result Janković was named the permanent coach of the China national team in 2023, with the aim to guide China to qualify for the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title='No time to waste' as China's new men's football coach targets 2026 World Cup |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3212044/chinas-new-mens-football-coach-aleksandar-jankovic-targets-2026-world-cup-no-time-waste |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

On 1 January 2024, China suffered a 1–2 defeat to Hong Kong in an international friendly, marking their first loss in 39 years.<ref name="scmp.com">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=Andersen hails Hong Kong's 'aggression' in historic win over China |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3246926/hong-kongs-footballers-beat-china-first-time-29-years |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Later, for the first time ever, China could not score in three consecutive matches at the AFC Asian Cup as they fell to third with only two points and later eliminated. This result and poor performance of the side triggered outrage in China, and Aleksandar Janković would lose the job on 31 January 2024.

On 25 February 2024, [[Branko Ivanković]] succeeded Janković as China's new coach.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-24 |title=Chinese turn to Ivankovic after Jankovic contract terminated |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/chinese-turn-ivankovic-after-jankovic-contract-terminated-2024-02-24/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> Under his tenure, China only managed to reach the [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round|final round of the World Cup qualification]] by the slimmest margin, thanks to China's superior head-to-head record against Thailand after both teams were equal on points, goals scored and goal difference.