The Chinese men's football Asian Games team defeated the North Korean team 2:1 and got a good start in the Asian Games group stage.

China News Service, Nagoya, Japan, September 16 (Reporter Jin Xu) On the 16th local time, the Chinese men's football team ushered in the first group match of the 2026 Aichi Nagoya Asian Games, and finally defeated the North Korean team 2:1.

After the opening, the two sides quickly entered the state. In the 27th minute, the North Korean team made a pass from the right, causing a scuffle in the Chinese team's penalty area. North Korean team player Choi Guo scored the first goal. After that, the North Korean team continued to attack aggressively. In the 44th minute, Chinese team player Wu Xi assisted and Zhang Yuning scored a header for the Chinese team. At the end of the first half, the two sides drew 1:1.

In the second half of the game, the confrontation between the two sides was fierce. In the 68th minute, Wu Xi scored with an assist from Zhang Yuning, and the Chinese team achieved a 2:1 lead. The North Korean team, which was in a passive situation, adjusted its offensive rhythm through substitutions. Although it repeatedly created dangers in front of the goal, it was never able to score. In the end, the Chinese team secured the victory.

The Chinese men's football Asian Games team is mainly composed of players who won the U23 Asian Cup runner-up earlier this year, and has recruited three over-age players, Wu Xi, Zhang Yuning, and Zhu Chenjie. Zhang Yuning said in an interview after the game that as an over-age player, he will work hard to complete the task and go all out to drive the young players; winning this game today is an affirmation for everyone.

The game ended in the rain. The Chinese team took a group photo and took the jersey of teammate Li Zhenquan. Previously, Li Zhenquan was injured during the Asian Games team training, and the injury was serious and missed the Asian Games.

A total of 15 teams participated in the men's football event of the Asian Games, divided into four groups A, B, C, and D. The top three groups each have 4 teams, and group D has 3 teams. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals. The Chinese team is divided into Group B together with Iran, the United Arab Emirates and North Korea.

The Chinese men's football team failed in the quarter-finals of the last Asian Games. In this tournament, the competition in Group B of the Chinese team is fierce, and the group ranking will also directly affect the situation of the knockout matches. According to the schedule, the second place in Group B will face the first place in Group A in the quarter-finals, and the host Japan team has a high probability of qualifying as the first place in Group A. Therefore, if the Chinese team wants to go further in the Asian Games, it needs to strive to qualify at the top of the group.

The Chinese men's football team will face the Iranian team on the 20th.