[Video] China made it to the World Cup, just not on the pitch

China’s men’s football team has not qualified for the World Cup since 2002, when it exited the tournament without scoring a single goal. More than two decades later, even with an expanded 48-team format and more qualifying spots for Asia, China is still missing from the pitch.

That absence is striking for a country with one of the world’s largest football fan bases, dozens of professional clubs and years of football reform behind it. But before getting to the harder question of why China still struggles on the pitch, there is another side to the story.

China’s team may not be at the World Cup, but “Team China” is still there. You may be surprised by just how many parts of the tournament have a China connection, from how fans get to stadiums to how matches are analysed, marketed and watched.

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