Ultra
supporters and fans of the Beijing Guoan FC celebrate together
after a goal against Chongcing Lifan FC during their Chinese
Super League match on June 28, 2015 in Beijing,
China.
Kevin Frayer /
Stringer
China has already come a long way in its plan to become a world
soccer superpower by 2050, according to a new report
from Nielsen.
Soaring interest? Check. Big investments? Check. A winning
national team? Give them time.
According to Nielsen, 31% of urban Chinese residents say
they’re interested in soccer, and that number is
growing steadily.
This year, the report states, Shanghai SIPG, a professional
football club in the Chinese Super League paid $61 million for
Brazilian player Hulk, breaking the league record set the year
before of $51 million for Alex Teixeira. Transfer fees paid by
Chinese clubs for foreign players rose 61% from 2014 to 2015.
In the past two years, Chinese companies have also bought all or
part of at least 10 European soccer clubs, including
Athlético Madrid, Espanyol, City Football Group, AC Milan,
Internationale, and Aston Villa, according to Nielsen. Chinese
companies also spend $35 million annually sponsoring European
clubs.
China announced its plan to become a world soccer superpower last
April. Its targets include:
— Having at least 20,000 soccer training centers and 70,000
pitches by 2020, and one pitch for every 10,000 people by 2030.
— Developing a women’s soccer team that’s world-class by
2030. China’s
women’s team currently ranks 13 in the world,
down from a high of 5 in 2003.
— Making sure the men’s soccer team becomes one of
the best in Asia by 2030, and one of the best in the world by
2050. China’s
men’s team ranks 84 in the world, down from a high of
37 in 199.
China, with an unmatched population of 1.4 billion, has succeeded
in conquering sports before. Just look at
ping pong — the country took gold in all four table
tennis events at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
