The match Argentina can win in China

This piece is part of the Argentine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s monthly column in the Buenos Aires Herald. While Argentina views football as part of its national identity, China sees it as a strategic initiative to build a sporting powerhouse. Between these two views lies a unique opportunity to turn Argentina’s football passion into a bridge for sporting, cultural, and economic cooperation. Three facts help illustrate the potential of this partnership. First of all, China has a population of just over 1.4 billion. Second, football has been a national priority for more than a decade. And third, Argentina has one of the most prestigious football talent development systems in the world. Why is China betting on football? In 2015, the Chinese government launched an official policy to transform the country into a “football superpower” by 2050. The stated goals include qualifying the men’s national team for the World Cup, hosting the tournament, and winning it. More than a decade later, however, those goals are far from being achieved. The men’s national team has not qualified for a World Cup since its only appearance in 2002 and currently ranks 91st in the FIFA world rankings. The Chinese Super League grew rapidly starting in 2010 thanks to major investments in foreign stars. However, economic difficulties and pandemic-related restrictions slowed that momentum. In addition, several clubs faced financial crises and corruption scandals. Taken together, these problems exposed the project’s structural weaknesses and hindered the long-term consolidation of Chinese football. Existing ties The relationship between Argentina and China has also been strengthened by training programs, sports exchanges, and the arrival of Argentine stars who helped boost interest in the sport. Proof of this is the impact of former national team players like Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, and Ezequiel Lavezzi, who played in the Chinese league with hefty contracts and helped fuel interest in Argentine football in China. In 2021, the then-Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens, and the Argentine ambassador to China, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, spearheaded the creation of the “China-Argentina International Football Academy.” The initiative was supported by Yulin officials, including Mayor Li Chunlin and the provincial deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Yao Hongjuan. The Chinese city covered the costs of building and operating the academy, while Argentina provided coaches and specialists to train young football players. Two years later, in 2023, the “Águilas Pequeñas” (Small Eagles) program was launched — an agreement between Juan Sebastián Verón, vice president of Estudiantes de La Plata, and Vaca Narvaja — which allowed ten young Chinese players to travel to Argentina to train for a year at the La Plata club. AFA strengthens its presence in China Earlier this year, the AFA organized an event at Workers’ Stadium in Beijing as part of its expansion strategy in Asia. At that event, it introduced three new international sponsors — Ant International (owner of Alipay+), Danone, and DeRucci — with the goal of strengthening the AFA’s commercial growth and brand positioning in China. Added to this is the enormous fan following Lionel Messi enjoys in the country, a key factor in strengthening the bond between the Albiceleste and millions of Chinese fans. Challenges ahead Football can be much more than just a sport in the relationship between Argentina and China. It is a tool that can drive cultural exchanges, professional training, and business. If Argentina manages to turn its football prestige into a policy of sustained cooperation, it will be able to consolidate a long-term alliance. This objective takes on even greater relevance in a context where China is also redefining its strategy, prioritizing the development of young talent and the financial sustainability of its clubs over big-name signings.