China women's national football team
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| China women's national football team | |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Association | Chinese Football Association |
| Confederation | Asian Football Confederation |
| Coach | Ante Milicic |
| Captain | Wang Shanshan |
| Most caps | Pu Wei (219) |
| Top scorer | Sun Wen (106) |
| FIFA code | CHN |
| FIFA rank | 19 |
| FIFA max date | June 1999 |
| FIFA min | 19 |
| FIFA min date | December 2023 |
| Pattern la | _chn22h |
| Pattern b | _chn22h |
| Pattern ra | _chn22h |
| Pattern sh | _chn22h |
| Pattern so | _chn22h |
| Leftarm | FF0000 |
| Body | FF0000 |
| Rightarm | FF0000 |
| Shorts | FF0000 |
| Socks | FF0000 |
| First game | USA 2–1 China (Fairfax, United States; 20 July 1986) |
| Largest win | China 21–0 Philippines (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; 24 September 1995) |
| Largest loss | Germany 8–0 China (Patras, Greece; 11 August 2004) |
| World Cup first | 1991 |
| World Cup best | Runners-up (1999) |
| Olympic first | 1996 |
| Olympic best | Runners-up (1996) |
| Asian Cup apps | 15 |
| Asian Cup first | 1986 |
| Asian Cup best | Winners (1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2022) |
| Regional name | AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| Regional cup apps | 15 |
| Regional cup first | 1986 |
| Regional cup best | Winners (9 times) |
China women's national football team represents the People's Republic of China in international women's association football and is governed by the Chinese Football Association. Nicknamed "Steel Roses", the team was a dominant force in Asia during the late 20th century and achieved global prominence by finishing as runners-up at both the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 1996 Summer Olympics. The squad has qualified for every edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup and is a record nine-time champion of the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
History
The team was formally organized in the 1980s under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association, making its international debut in 1986 against the United States. Under pioneering coaches like Shang Ruihua and Ma Yuanan, China rapidly ascended to become Asia's premier team, winning seven consecutive AFC Women's Asian Cup titles between 1986 and 1999. The golden generation, featuring stars like Sun Wen and Liu Ailing, reached the final of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, losing to the United States, and famously lost the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final on penalties at the Rose Bowl. After a period of relative decline in the 2010s, the team experienced a resurgence by winning the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup under coach Shui Qingxia, defeating South Korea in the final.
Team image
Traditionally, the team's home kit features the color red, reflecting the national flag, with yellow accents. The nickname "Steel Roses" symbolizes a combination of beauty and resilient strength, a moniker that gained widespread popularity following the team's heroic performance in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The team has been sponsored by major sportswear brands including Nike and Adidas. Key historical matches have been played at venues like Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium and Yongchuan Sports Center.
Results and fixtures
Recent competitive results include participation in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage after draws with Haiti and a loss to England. The team successfully qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics football tournament. Upcoming fixtures are part of the qualification cycle for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup and friendlies against top sides like Spain and Brazil. Their schedule is managed in accordance with the FIFA International Match Calendar.
Players
The current squad is a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talents, selected by head coach Ante Milicic. The team is captained by forward Wang Shanshan, with other key players including goalkeeper Xu Huan, defender Li Mengwen, and midfielder Zhang Linyan. Historically, legendary figures such as Sun Wen, the all-time top scorer, and Pu Wei, the record appearance holder, have defined the team. Many players feature in domestic leagues like the Chinese Women's Super League for clubs such as Wuhan Jianghan University and Shanghai Shengli, as well as in overseas competitions like the Women's Super League in England.
Honours
The team's major honours include a record nine AFC Women's Asian Cup titles (1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2022). They were runners-up at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 1996 Summer Olympics. The team has also won multiple gold medals at the Asian Games, including at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 editions, and secured the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament on several occasions.
See also
* Chinese Football Association * Chinese Women's Super League * 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final * AFC Women's Asian Cup * Women's football in China
References
Category:Women's national association football teams Category:Asian women's national football AFC