Sports
13:01, 27-Dec-2017
'Sports Replay' with Yan Qiang: China will qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup
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China is not sending a team to the 2018 Russia World Cup, much to the dismay of football fans in the country. But football commentator Yan Qiang believes things will be different in four years, and China will qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
He also believes that China playing in the football showpiece will happen before another Chinese player suits up to play in the Premier League again.
Chinese football clubs have spent lavishly over the last few year. The 2016/17 winter transfer window saw clubs fork out more than 420 million US dollars on players, with 125 million alone spent by SIPG on Brazilians Hulk and Oscar.
Yan Qiang (L) sits down with CGTN for an interview. /CGTN Photo
Yan Qiang (L) sits down with CGTN for an interview. /CGTN Photo
Yan also has thoughts on the Chinese Super League, where club owners and investors have been rushing to pour money into football since a new reform plan was put in place in the country. That initiative hopes to raise the standard of play in the domestic league, but more importantly, improve China's football status on the international front.
CGTN's year-end special program, "Sports Replay," will air on Dec. 30-31. For more details, tune in to a special edition of CGTN's "Sports Scene" at 15:30-16:00 on Dec. 30-31 and join us to replay your 2017 sporting year.