Host Country: Qatar
The 22nd World Cup involves 32 teams who will play a total of 64 matches. These will be played in 8 venues located in 5 cities across Qatar, which makes it the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world.
Date of the Finals: 21st November - 18th December
Number of Venues: 8 (5 Host Cities)
FIFA can confirm that following discussions with our South American Member Associations in conjunction with CONMEBOL and taking into consideration the existing volatility around travel and quarantine restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has decided to postpone the South American qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ that were due to be played in March 2021.
Details on the updated schedule will be provided in due course.
Allan Okello wasted no time in making a name for himself in the Ugandan Premier League with Kampala Capital City Authority. After joining the club’s training academy at 15, he made his professional debut while still 16 and went on to compete in the CAF Confederation Cup 2016/17. In three years with KCCA, Okello racked up 39 goals in 112 matches, putting him on the radar of many North African clubs, including several from Morocco and Egypt.
Despite some financially enticing offers, the forward finally opted for Algeria’s Paradou Athletic Club, who have a good reputation in Europe thanks in particular to their youth academy. Indeed, three members of the Algeria side – Youcef Atal and Hicham Boudaoui (Nice) and Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Monchengladbach) – that won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 came through the ranks at Paradou.
FIFA.com began by asking Uganda’s rising star why he had decided on Paradou. "Like all African players, my dream is to have a career in Europe. I could have chosen another destination, but Paradou AC sell more players to clubs on the Old Continent than any other side in Algeria.
"It's a great springboard to make a name for yourself abroad. Just in the last two years, the club have sold three players to European sides, and so I’m working hard to be among the next ones to go there."
Like many English speakers, Okello has had his share of difficulties in a country where Arabic and French are predominantly spoken.
"When I arrived in Algeria, it was difficult for me, as I had to adapt to the style of play and overcome the language barrier," he said. "Now things are starting to improve. I’ve learned a few words and studied the language to let me communicate with my team-mates. Initially, I couldn't express myself and didn't understand anything. Now, I’m in the ideal situation – I'm an integral part of the team, I feel good on the pitch and I can build my self-confidence.
"The Algerian championship is really very professional, unlike what I've experienced before. It allows you to evolve very quickly and can open doors to European football."
Key facts:
Name: Allan Okello
Nationality: Ugandan
Position: Forward
Age: 20 years old
Height: 1.79m
The future also looks promising for Okello’s national team, Uganda. The Cranes may never have qualified for the FIFA World Cup™, but they at least find themselves in an even qualifying group for Qatar 2022 alongside Mali, Kenya and Rwanda.
"Before thinking about qualifying for the World Cup, we have to first negotiate the qualifiers for the Africa Cup," Okello said. "So we have to work hard to ensure our participation in the continental championship and only then focus on the World Cup. That said, we’re all dreaming of reaching the finals.
"Our group opponents are strong. We’ve already faced Mali and Rwanda and know how good they are, so it won’t be easy to get out of this group.
"The good thing for Uganda is that it’s quite an even section. Mali qualified for the last CAN, as did Kenya. Only Rwanda missed out on Egypt 2019. This group gives us a good chance of reaching the World Cup.
"If we qualified for the World Cup, we’d make everyone in Uganda happy. Together we're going to do all we can to make that dream a reality.
"I’m one of the younger internationals and there are a lot of very good players in the squad. We have a strong team and I’m proud to represent my country. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m lucky to be part of this adventure.
"I wouldn’t say that the team relies solely on me, because we’re a united group. If we work hard and everyone pulls in the same direction, then we’ll achieve our goals."
We finished by asking Okello who his footballing role models were, and there were no surprises in his answer: "Originally it was Iniesta but now I really like Messi. However, in my opinion, the best player today is Kevin De Bruyne."
Before joining Paradou, Okello was voted Player of the Year in Uganda for 2019 following a very successful season with Kampala City.
“Surviving for long in a country that has 200 million Seleção coaches is impossible,” summarised Luiz Felipe Scolari of what many deem the most demanding job in football.
Surviving under the scorching scrutiny of the gluttonous Brazil fans is, indeed, akin to surviving in the Lut Desert. Winning, to Brazilians, simply isn’t enough. You need to win with immeasurable swagger.
Mario Zagallo was A Seleção’s eighth coach in the five years leading up to Mexico 1970. Carlos Alberto Parreira was their fourth appointment in little over a year in 1991. Scolari became the fourth in nine months ten years later. Only one man in history – Flavio Costa, who was in charge between 1944 and ’50 - has spent over five years in the canary-yellow chair.
A man who is not only surviving, but thriving with the proverbial poisoned chalice in set to double that statistic. Tite has won 38 and lost just four of 52 matches. He’s unbeaten in his last 21 FIFA World Cup™ preliminaries, winning 16 of them.
The 59-year-old has masterminded Brazil’s best-ever start to a World Cup qualifying campaign, eclipsing the figures Junior, Socrates, Zico and Co set in 1981. And fundamentally in a land where, to many, futebol-arte is as paramount as three points, he’s keeping the insatiable satiated.
Tite took time out from his hectic schedule – he watches and analyses matches with the regularity other Brazilians drink coffee – to chat to FIFA.com about the upcoming clashes with Colombia and Argentina, Diego Maradona, Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Alisson, his admiration of Roberto Mancini’s Italy and Kevin De Bruyne, and why he took a year out from coaching to study the beautiful game.
Tite: Every game, every phase has its own story. We have to look at the bigger picture. The pandemic took something away from us, affected the quality of football. Roughly speaking, the quality we showed in three of the games was above my expectations, and against Venezuela we struggled a lot. It’s a growth process. The points reflect the team’s performance, and our total impresses me.
They are two very important games. The qualifying competition is so balanced. The two games against Colombia in the last qualifiers were, technically, the best two games we played in. Both teams sought to attack, sought to create, caused problems for the opposition. They were very even games. The two games were very difficult for us. The traditional derbies – Brazil-Argentina, Brazil-Uruguay – they have a really strong historic element. And Argentina have great individuals. For me, Brazil against Argentina, as well as being a World Cup qualifier, it’s another competition in itself.
Let me use the account of Careca, with whom I have a good relationship. Maradona’s technical ability, capacity to improvise, creativity… Careca always had to remain extremely attentive just to overcome the ‘difficulty’ and keep up with such an exceptional player. On the pitch, Maradona was extraordinary.
Neymar has matured a lot. Before, when he was at Barcelona and in my early days with the Seleção, he was a player who would be out on the wing, would score goals, had pace, would dribble, do individual plays. Now he’s expanded the area in which he plays and, as well as being a goalscorer, he creates plays for others. He’s now what we call a ‘bow and arrow’ – he can set things up and finish things off. He’s increased his arsenal.
Since I took over, the Seleção has gone through phases. The most memorable phase was in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. It was the best version of the Seleção. We created a lot of chances, scored a lot of goals, conceded only a few, were consistent. And we did it playing in a really beautiful way. Coutinho, in those qualifiers, was what I call an ‘external float’. First he was out on the right, given the freedom to create. Then when Renato [Augusto] got injured, he played in the centre in a role a little similar to the one he played for Liverpool. He was also good there. He’s gone through ups and downs, but he’s a great player and he’s in great form.
I think to be and to be at that moment are two different things. Is he in the best three in the world? I have absolutely no doubt, 100-per-cent conviction. To say he’s the best I’d have to really look closely at all the goalkeepers to compare. But I think over the last year he was the best. Was he better than Neuer? Yes. Better than Ter Stegen? Yes. Better than Oblak? Yes.
It’s difficult to say. After the pandemic, there hasn’t been much opportunity for teams to show what they can do. Brazil, Argentina, Colombia have had very little chances. The Europeans have played eight times, four more than us. Italy have come back playing, for me, football that’s much more beautiful to watch. Mancini has done a great job. He’s installed a school of football like Arrigo Sacchi. I think they have a greater balance between defensive play – characteristically, historically what they’re renowned for – and offensive play. Belgium still have this great generation. They’re a great team, have great individual talent, and one of the most talented players in the world in De Bruyne. France are very strong too.
I would say the three I voted for [The Best FIFA Men’s Player]. Neymar first, Lewandowski second, De Bruyne third. Before he got injured Neymar was, even by his own standards, in fantastic form. Lewandowski is an incredible striker. De Bruyne is capable of doing things that others can’t. His improvisation, his determination. I love watching him play.
I’ve always studied football and wanted to expand my knowledge, my ideas. When I left Corinthians, it was the perfect opportunity to study other coaches and teams to a greater degree, first-hand. I’d won everything I could at club level – the Campeonato Brasileiro, the Libertadores, the Club World Cup, where we beat Chelsea. I thought the next step was the Seleção and I wanted to improve myself as a coach as best as I could. I read books on Simeone, Guardiola. I studied what Bianchi achieved at Boca Juniors and Cruyff achieved at Barcelona. Football is different all over the world, each place has different things you can learn. I went to meet up with Bianchi and hear his ideas, which were very insightful. I spent time at Arsenal. I spent time with Ancelotti at Real Madrid. I studied Manchester City, the English champions, Bayern Munich, the German champions. I sought to learn everything – the stuff behind the scenes, the training, the tactics and what happens on the pitch. Everything. I watched all the matches at the 2014 World Cup, took notes, broke them down. That period was very important for my career.
Ancelotti. The way Simeone organises his teams is remarkable. Guardiola, his offensive tactics, ability to break teams down is really impressive. Bianchi has an incredible ability to get the best out of his players in big finals. Some of Cruyff’s tactical ideas were fantastic. But I without doubt learned the most from Ancelotti. He sees the game in a different and unique way.
The latest edition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Magazine Show, our monthly look at some of the top stories in the build-up to next year's world finals, is out now and fans can watch the full episode here on FIFA.com.
This week, we turn our attention to the recently-completed FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ and the myriad of stories from it that made it so successful and unique, including a special visit to Qatar by FIFA Fan Award 2019 winners and lifelong Palmeiras fans Silvia Grecco her blind son Nikollas.
We also highlight history-making referee Edina Alves Batista and Qatar's National Sports Day and we hear from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Enjoy the episode above and join us in counting down the days to Qatar 2022!
Taking into consideration the existing travel and quarantine restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across the continent and following a process of close consultation with Asia’s Member Associations, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA have jointly agreed to postpone the majority of the upcoming Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and AFC Asian Cup China 2023™.
The latest match schedule for match days 7, 8 and 9 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2, which is scheduled to take place on March 25 and 30, 2021 is as follows:
FIFA and the AFC continue to place the health and safety of players, teams, match officials and all stakeholders as the highest priority and will work together with their member associations to closely monitor the situation in the region.
As part of efforts to ensure the safe and successful completion of the Asian Qualifiers, the AFC will open the invitation to member associations to host their respective groups in a centralised format and will confirm and communicate in due course the match schedule for the June 2021 international window, where the centralised qualifying matches are scheduled to take place from 31 May to 15 June, 2021.
Potential updates on the FIFA World Cup qualifiers will be published here on FIFA.com.
FIFA has been working with all Concacaf member associations, with the support of the confederation, to provide guidance ahead of the upcoming qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
The match schedule for Qualification Round 1 in the Concacaf region includes 30 member associations who are each scheduled to play two matches between 24 and 31 March.
FIFA has in recent weeks held virtual workshops with all member associations to ensure that they are aware of the regulations relating to COVID-19, in particular regarding player release and the possibility of playing matches in a neutral venue should it be required due to quarantine restrictions in certain countries.
Owing to the unique and challenging circumstances being faced globally, FIFA regulations allow member associations to request that an official match be played in a neutral venue, provided it is within the applicable confederation and meets a range of other criteria.
Following FIFA’s discussions with member associations, the latest match schedule for the Concacaf region qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is as follows:
FIFA will continue to work with the member associations, with the support of Concacaf, to ensure that the health and safety of players, teams, match officials and all stakeholders is given the highest priority for these matches.
Any further updates on FIFA World Cup qualifiers will be published here on FIFA.com.
“Don’t tell me what’s wrong. Tell me how you’d fix it.”
Roberto Martinez can see now that his life and career have been shaped by these words and the man who recited them. That challenge, to solve a problem identified on the pitch, came from his father, himself a player, coach and football obsessive. And it was posed, repeatedly, to Roberto from the age of nine.
Martinez remembers, as a boy, replying with fresh tactical systems, tweaks in positioning and personnel – “anything to impress him really”. And even now, as the 47-year-old coach and technical director of the world’s top-ranked team, he is still subjected to the same conversations-cum-interrogations from this most demanding of mentors.
The Belgium boss wouldn’t have it any other way though, and relishes the opportunity to talk football with the man who made him see the game “not just as a sport, but as a way of living”. It helps too, of course, that he can now bring to these animated father-son chats a wealth of evidence that underline his credentials as an elite coach and, yes, accomplished problem-solver.
The most recent exhibits include leading Belgium to their best-ever finish at a FIFA World Cup™ and, for the past three years, keeping them perched immovably at the summit of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. All that is left to do with the Red Devils is win a major trophy and, in this interview, the man leading their ‘golden generation’ tells FIFA.com how much he is savouring that challenge.
Roberto Martinez: It does. It’s fresh in part because of the nature of international football. The job of an international coach is completely different to coaching a club and, the longer I do it, the more I’ve discovered that it’s a constant avenue of opportunities in terms of 'recruiting' the next group of players. You can just sit back, of course, wait, look at who’s doing well at club level and call them into the national team. But I felt very early on, with Belgium a nation of just 11 million people, that we couldn’t just take that approach. And I’ve really enjoyed treating the national team almost like a club and creating a kind of recruitment system, setting certain projects in the U-19s and U-21s and giving those players a clear path into the senior set-up. Then of course there is the more obvious pleasure of working with the best generation Belgian football has ever had, and when the matches come around there is definitely huge enjoyment in that.
Quite possibly. My dad played until 43 – he was a real force of nature – and, as players, we were always competing against each other. As a coach, he advises me more… and challenges me a lot! (laughs) He’s always saying, ‘Why are you doing that when you could do it this way?’ But I will always be grateful because he gave me that special way of looking at the game. We can all see a game and think, for example, ‘They’re struggling to break the opposition down.' But he would say: ‘Don’t tell me that. Tell me what they can do to solve the problem.’ And that is the key to coaching because, in football, there is no right or wrong: we’re all looking to get the ball in the back of the net, and how you do that comes down to your experiences and how you understand the game. From a young age, my dad made me think about that. He still does! We keep going, and I treasure our conversations. But it’s a good thing they don’t get recorded. (laughs)
Oh, absolutely! He does it with a lot of love. But he cannot understand how the game has moved on in certain respects. Don’t ask him about zonal marking at set plays, that’s for sure! (laughs)
It’s a very good question, and I do think it was a factor. When you look back to when you’re a kid, discovering football, playing on the streets, the first thing you do is relive moments from World Cups. That’s definitely my memory – of playing in the streets in 1978, pretending to be Mario Kempes. Playing in a World Cup was the big dream. It’s always been there for me, and even when I was a manager in the Premier League, I wanted to be part of the World Cup – to follow it in situ. That was why I started working with an American channel and spent 60 days at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, seeing how the different national teams prepared and everything that went on around the tournament. It was fascinating to me.
And yes, I think it’s definitely a big reason why I was so keen to take the challenge with Belgium. It’s been the best thing I could have done too, in terms of how it’s stretched me and tested me as a coach. And the World Cup in Russia definitely lived up to my expectations. In fact, it exceeded them. It was obviously one of the best World Cups in terms of organisation, and we managed to play seven games there, which had always been our target. I also think, in any World Cup, it makes it extra special when you face Brazil, and in our case we were fortunate enough to get a great win against them. That was an amazing experience.
Both. It’s impossible for me to separate the two. When we started that World Cup, we were very aware that we had the talent to compete. But there is often this false conception of the champion, and a feeling that when you look at a World Cup-winning team – Spain in South Africa, for example – that they blew teams away and just steamrolled their way to the trophy. If you look closer that’s never the case, and what you see is that talent alone doesn’t win you trophies – it’s how you face adversity, as those successful teams do. That was a question for us: ‘How will we react when we face adversity?’ And in that Japan game, 2-0 down with just over 20 minutes to go, we found the answer to that question. It wasn’t easy. That was the first time ever in the World Cup that two substitutes had come on to score, and the first time since 1966 that a team had come from two goals down to win a match in 90 minutes. That’s how significant it was, and it makes you proud.
The Brazil game was satisfying in a different way because, for 60 minutes, it was the most beautiful tactical performance that we produced. Also, when you play Brazil, you’re not just playing a phenomenal group of players – you’re playing the history. When you travel to the stadium it’s yellow everywhere, and everything reminds you: this is a team that has won five World Cups.
Of course, and I think there was also the element of dealing with the expectations of being told that they are this ‘golden generation’ and should all of a sudden be reaching those heights. The players knew they were carrying the hopes and expectations of millions, and that’s not easy. The golden generation tag could have been very difficult for these players to carry, as we’ve seen in other countries. But they provided a great example of how to deal with that pressure while continuing to express themselves and enjoy their football.
I felt before the World Cup that it was a very unfair tag because, for me, you become a golden generation through your achievements – not because of people’s perception of your status. I was worried that it would bring extra, unnecessary pressure. Now I don’t worry about that because, after what happened in Russia – with the way this team played, and coming home with the bronze medal – they are Belgium’s golden generation. I don’t feel that the tag carries any pressure for these players anymore. It doesn’t mean we’ll win the EURO or the next World Cup; in tournament football there are so many small details that affect who wins and who doesn’t. But it means we’ll be as good as we can be, unburdened by expectations, and ready to go there to compete together – as players, staff and fans.
Absolutely. You’re right that it’s not a trophy, and not something we go around shouting or boasting about. But it’s the only way of measuring consistency, commitment and strength in depth against the world’s other football nations. It’s not easy to do what we’ve done, and what’s most pleasing is the control in our own standards that we’ve shown throughout those three years. It’s also another first for Belgian football – we’ve never had a period like this at number one in the world – and it shows not only how consistent these players have been, but what great ambassadors they are for their country.
Absolutely, and I would say that challenge was a big attraction in taking on the job in the first place. I had managed Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini and Kevin Mirallas at Everton and it intrigued me, seeing that these very distinct players and personalities – all so different – coming from the same national team. And you realise: that’s Belgium. This is a country that’s so full of diversity, of different qualities and attributes, and if you can bring everyone’s focus to achieving the same goal, that diversity and variety becomes an enormous strength. The dressing room we have reminds me a lot of one you would find in the Premier League, with the different cultures and mindsets - plus the three official languages - and that’s been fascinating. If you don’t pay attention to the sensitivities of that, it’s very easy for things to be dismantled and that shared goal to be lost. But it’s true that being a foreigner has definitely helped me a lot – even if it might not seemed that way initially – because the moment I started making big decisions, it was clear that the only reason I had for doing what I did was to create a better team. I don’t have an attachment to any of the individual communities, and being seen as neutral has been a key element for me in this job.
That being said, it’s the attitude of each individual player, in coming together to pursue one goal, that has made this team so successful and exciting to watch. Nothing has come easy for these players. Almost all of them had to leave Belgium at a very young age and, wherever they went, they had to fight, develop and adapt. I think that’s why none of them take playing for the national team for granted. For them, it’s almost like a celebration of all that effort, of all that hard work and overcoming the difficulties and the tears of having to leave their families. It’s wonderful to see. So often you hear of spoiled footballers where everything has come too early and too easy, and with players like that it’s so difficult to get them to appreciate the moment, be consistent and have strong values. With Belgium’s players, because of the challenges they have faced, in leaving home, adapting to new countries and new languages, they know to appreciate each moment and the significance of representing their national team.
The answer to that probably lies in what has already happened. Initially, I came to Belgium for two years: to prepare the team for the World Cup, compete in Russia and then go back to club football. That was the idea. But over four years later, I’m still here, still enjoying my job and very excited for the next international camp. That’s why I can’t give an answer to that question now, or even an inclination, because I genuinely don’t know. I just want to make the most of today and keep doing that every day for however long I am here.
The most recent board meeting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22) was held on Thursday, 11 February, prior to the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ final between Bayern Munich and Tigres UANL at Education City Stadium.
It was held via videoconference due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The board reviewed key achievements and looked ahead to upcoming events and milestones, including the final four stadium inaugurations and the FIFA Arab Cup™, which will be held in Qatar at the end of 2021.
HE Hassan Al Thawadi, Q22 Chairman and Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: “It was a pleasure to engage with colleagues during the FIFA Club World Cup – the latest top-level football event to take place in Qatar during the pandemic. Considering the unprecedented challenges facing the world at present, we are proud of the excellent progress we have made in preparation for the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world – and look forward to celebrating more milestones during the next year as we edge ever closer to the biggest sporting event in our region’s history.”
Nasser Al Khater, CEO of Q22, said: “With less than two years to go until the FIFA World Cup, we are working hard to ensure we deliver an extraordinary fan experience for all in 2022. This last week, we have witnessed an excellent edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament provided another welcome opportunity to test our operational readiness, while also ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved through our innovative bubble-to-bubble system, and other stringent health and safety protocols.
With an exciting year ahead, 2021 will culminate in December with the FIFA Arab Cup, which promises to be an amazing event. It will unite the entire region and provide the world with a real sense of what Qatar has to offer visitors, players and fans in 2022.”
Colin Smith, Managing Director of Q22, said: “The FIFA Club World Cup was the first FIFA competition to take place since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was a confirmation of the joint efforts that FIFA and the local organisers are making to deliver to the highest standards despite challenging circumstances.
As we get closer to kick-off in November 2022, the progress that Qatar continues to show despite the unprecedented challenges faced over the last year is nothing short of remarkable. The project is well on track and 2021 promises to be another groundbreaking year of developing hosting capabilities and testing infrastructure, with events including a number of stadium launches and the FIFA Arab Cup.”
The leading 16 Arab nations will take part in the FIFA Arab Cup in December – during the same time frame as Qatar 2022. Matches will take place in World Cup stadiums, with the final being held on 18 December – Qatar National Day – exactly a year before the Qatar 2022 final takes place.
Friday marks the New Year Day or Spring Festival in the Chinese lunar calendar, which is known as Year of the Ox in the Chinese zodiac. Superstitious or not, the ox represents a lucky word in Chinese and understandably, the Year of the Ox is seen as a time to live up to expectations.
Someone who is hoping to live up to expectations with China PR and Beijing FC (previously known as Beijing Guoan) is forward Zhang Yuning.
"I am past 23 years old in the Year of the Ox, so I am beyond the U-23 policy (a policy by the Chinese Football Association that requires each club to ensure U-23 players get playing time in domestic competitions)," the 24-year-old told FIFA.com. "I have to compete for chances to play [with Beijing FC]. I will work harder in both training and playing, making solid progress and not letting a day slip in vain."
2021 will be crucial for China PR in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Trailing leaders Syria by eight points, Team Dragon must rally and win as many matches as possible when the competition resumes in March if they are to progress to the next round. Despite the daunting tasks facing them, Zhang is confident that they can complete the mission under new coach Li Tie.
"Each of the remaining [four] matches will be crucial for us," he said. "There will be pressure. But I believe we are capable of good performances and we can achieve the results we want. Of course, the past lessons will be learned and we will spare nothing to do our job well."
There is a 12-year cycle in the Chinese lunar calendar with each year represented by an animal. As a result, people have their birth year return every 12 years. It isn't, however, seen as a time to celebrate as the birth year is believed to bring about challenges to overcome.
Born in January 1997, Zhang embraced his birth year in 2020, which was the Year of the Rat. While COVID-19 did cause formidable challenges for all footballers including him, Zhang did his best in turning the year into a fruitful one.
He scored six times and provided four assists as Beijing finished runners-up in last season’s C-League in Group B. On the continental front, he was twice on target, helping his side reach the quarter-finals of the 2020 AFC Champions League and putting in performances that established his place as one of the hottest prospects in China PR.
"Last season, both the C-League and AFC Champions League employed centralised formats due to the pandemic. It was a pity that we had to play in empty stadiums missing the fans' support but because the team stayed together throughout the competitions, our teamwork improved and the consistency of our performances was better.
"Besides, Beijing has star players like national team veteran Yu Dabao and Brazilian international Renato Augusto. I have learned a lot by training and playing with them."
In a sense, last year saw Zhang realised some of his early promise. A local product from Hangzhou Greentown, he emerged as a standout among his peers and he was made captain of both the national U-17 and U-20 teams.
In 2015, the then teenager began a four-season overseas adventure across Europe, plying his trade with the likes of Vitesse, West Bromwich Albion and Werder Bremen before returning home to join Beijing in 2019.
"My time in Europe helped me a lot in my development," he said. "I have improved both technically and physically. Particularly, I got tougher mentally. I have learned how to cope with setbacks and adjust myself properly."
At the national team level, he broke into the senior side in 2016. He made a dream start in his international debut, scoring twice and providing an assist as China PR defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in a friendly. He went on to start as the lone striker in a qualifier for Russia 2018 against IR Iran, with his performance earning the nod by the then Team Melli manager Carlos Queiroz. However, Zhang has yet to break his duck in a major international competition, an added motivation for him.
"I hope I can become an all-round centre forward. I hope I can not only score goals but also become a fulcrum for the team by surging forward and making passes. Last year was a good one in terms of consistency in displays. But a breakthrough is still to come."
When asked about the goals for the future, Zhang stated that he is always striving to become a better player each day, inspired by his childhood idol Kaka.
"When I was a ten-year-old kid, I watched Kaka earn that year's FIFA Player of the Year award on TV. He always impressed me through his wonderful displays on the pitch. A great player like him, Kaka shows great personality off the pitch. He is the role model for all young footballers, including me."
As today is the Spring Festival, FIFA.com would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Chinese readers a prosperous and successful year in the coming Year of the Ox.
Triumphant on home soil in 2018, Morocco secured back-to-back titles at the CAF African Nations Championship, a tournament reserved for African-based players.
In the final on 7 February, the Atlas Lions beat Mali (2-0), while Guinea completed the podium at the tournament’s sixth edition with their 2-0 win over hosts Cameroon. We pick out some of the key takeaways from the tournament.
The first country ever to retain the title, Morocco put on a near flawless display, the only slight blemish being a 0-0 draw with Rwanda on the second matchday of the group stage. And while their total of just three goals conceded was impressive, it was going forward that they really set themselves apart.
Leading the way was tournament top scorer and best player Soufiane Rahimi, who accounted for five of his side’s 15 goals. The Raja Casablanca winger did not get on the scoresheet in the final, however, leaving the spotlight to goalkeeper Anas Zniti, whose impressive display earned him the man of the match award.
In contrast to Morocco, Mali’s run to the final owed more to their defensive solidity. Despite only scoring three times in six games, they still managed to reach the decider, winning their respective quarter-final and semi-final against Congo and Guinea from the penalty spot, following two scoreless draws. Having expended considerable energy in getting there, the Eagles could not withstand Morocco’s formidable attack in the final.
2 - In winning their second CHAN title, Morocco joined Congo DR as the tournament’s most successful side. Mali, meanwhile, finished runners-up for the second time after missing out in 2016 to Congo DR.
One set of lions crowned... another tamed: While Cameroon had a successful tournament in terms of hosting, the same cannot be said of its on-field performance. Roundly beaten in the semi-finals (4-0) by the eventual champions, the Indomitable Lions were still hoping for a podium finish for the first time at this event. However, Guinea had not read the script and duly took bronze for their own maiden CHAN medal.
El Kaabi comes good: Ayoub El Kaabi, the nine-goal leading-scorer at the previous edition, was widely tipped to be the Atlas Lions’ top gun going into the competition. However, their captain and centre forward was on the periphery for much of the tournament, only finding the net twice, each time from the spot. All that changed in the final when he made sure of victory with a close-range diving header in the 79th minute.
Diarra, an unfortunate hero: "Having the ability to save your team in a penalty shoot-out, when a lot of people are depending on you, is a unique feeling," Djigui Diarra told FIFA.com at the end of CHAN 2016, where he first showed his shot-stopping skills on the continental stage. Five years later, the Mali keeper distinguished himself again, helping his side prevail during shoot-outs twice more. But as in 2016, Diarra could not prevent defeat in the final. "I’m convinced that we’ll have the chance to redeem ourselves," he said in 2016. Perhaps Diarra and his team-mates will get another one.
"I congratulate Mali and their coach Diane Nouhoum for their participation in the competition. Reaching the final is an achievement in itself. For our part, we came here with a vastly changed team and new staff. So, it was about creating our own history and winning for ourselves. Today's final was difficult, but we did enough and were deserved winners I think." Houcine Ammouta, coach of Morocco’s CHAN team
| YEAR | WINNER |
| 2018 | France |
| 2014 | Germany |
| 2010 | Spain |
| 2006 | Italy |
| 2002 | Brazil |
| 1998 | France |
| 1994 | Brazil |
| 1990 | West Germany |
| 1986 | Argentina |
| 1982 | Italy |
| 1978 | Argentina |
| 1974 | West Germany |
| 1970 | Brazil |
| 1966 | England |
| 1962 | Brazil |
| 1958 | Brazil |
Won most by: Brazil - 5 times winners
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