Abstract
Under the leadership of president Xi Jinping, the revitalisation of football has become a key strategic goal for China. His three wishes are to qualify regularly, host and win the FIFA World Cup by 2050. Considering the statehood of the international sports system and the Chinese political motivation to achieve such ambitious goals, this paper is going to apply an analysis of football from an International Relations perspective. In this regard, three basic premises are identified for the analysis of football: 1. The national interest in sport is winning titles. 2. The national interest is not as relevant as the state’s ability and capacity to win. 3. More resources and investments may guarantee a better performance, but not necessarily winning titles. In conclusion, although football in China is having a considerable development along this decade, if we consider that the conversion of resources into titles is not the same for every country, China might face a power paradox, being incapable to take advantage of its extraordinary capacities to win titles and become a global football power.
Highlights
IntroductionSince Xi Jinping took office as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2012, the revitalisation of football has become a key strategic goal for China
This paper has reviewed from a realist perspective of International Relations (IR) the difficulties for China to become a football power and win the World Cup by 2050
It was the lack of acceptable results at international level what motivated the deep reform process of Chinese football, and it is the desire of becoming world champion what is driving the development of the football industry, interfering even with the management of the CSL
Summary
Since Xi Jinping took office as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2012, the revitalisation of football has become a key strategic goal for China In this regard, the Medium and Long-Term Development Plan of Chinese Football (2016-2050) expects to place China among the Asian top teams by 2030, qualifying regularly for the World Cup; and in long-term, becoming a leading football power, hoping to win the World Cup by 2050. The Medium and Long-Term Development Plan of Chinese Football (2016-2050) expects to place China among the Asian top teams by 2030, qualifying regularly for the World Cup; and in long-term, becoming a leading football power, hoping to win the World Cup by 2050 It seems that football in China follows the political and economic purpose of the state, since it is a mean to develop the sports industry and a strategic element of Chinese public diplomacy , being part of the Belt and Road Initiative in order to promote exchange of knowledge and strengthen the Chinese leadership globally
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